1 


SOCIAL  NEW  YORK 
UNDER  THE  GEORGES 
1714-1776 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016  with  funding  from 
Getty  Research  Institute 


https://archive.org/details/socialnewyorkundOOsing_O 


The  Van  Cortlandt  house,  built  in  1748. 
See  page  45. 


SOCIAL  NEW  YORK 
UNDER  THE  GEORGES 

1714  - - 1776 

HOUSES,  STREETS  AND  COUNTRY  HOMES, 
WITH  CHAPTERS  ON  FASHIONS,  FURNI- 
TURE, CHINA,  PLATE  AND  MANNERS 


By  ESTHER  SINGLETON 

Author  of  “'The  Furniture  of  Our  Forefathers9  9 
Profusely  Illustrated 


$eU)  gorft 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 
1902 


Copyright,  1902 

By  D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 


Published  November,  1902 


PREFACE 


The  purpose  I have  had  in  view  in  the  following 
work  has  been  to  show  clearly  the  social  conditions 
of  the  prosperous  class  in  New  York  during  the 
period  sometimes  known  as  “ The  Golden  Age  of 
New  York,”  which  extended  from  the  accession  of 
George  I.  till  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution.  Other 
writers  have  taken  pleasure  in  describing  the  humble 
side  of  life  here  with  the  Dutch  vrouw  at  her  spin- 
ning-wheel and  the  goodman  on  his  settle  at  the 
fireside.  In  the  following  pages,  this  lowly  side  of 
life  in  Manhattan  has  been  entirely  neglected,  my 
aim  having  been  to  exhibit  the  opulent  and  fashion- 
able life  that  revolved  around  Fort  George. 

Nothing  could  more  clearly  show  the  life  of  suc- 
cessful activity  and  at  the  same  time  of  luxury  led  by 
the  wealthy  citizens  of  New  York  than  the  descrip- 
tions of  the  houses  they  lived  in,  the  contents  of 
their  various  rooms,  their  plate,  glass  and  china,  the 
delicacies  with  which  their  tables  were  supplied,  the 
gardens  and  domains  in  which  they  took  their  pleas- 
ure, the  clothes  they  wore,  the  music  they  sang  and 
played,  the  plays,  exhibitions  and  shows  they  attended, 
the  public  and  private  fetes , balls,  dinners,  and  assem- 

vii 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

blies  at  which  they  gathered,  and  the  field-sports  in 
which  they  indulged.  No  survey  of  the  period  would 
be  complete,  moreover,  without  a glance  at  the  ac- 
complishments, tastes,  and  fashionable  fancies  and  fol- 
lies of  the  day. 

This  material,  collected  and  classified  in  chapters, 
has  been  gathered  from  many  sources.  Old  letters 
and  diaries  have  been  consulted  through  the  courtesy 
of  descendants  of  those  who  wrote  them.  The  ordi- 
nary sources  of  documentary  history  have  been  thor- 
oughly examined  and  sifted  ; wills  and  inventories 
preserved  in  Albany  and  New  York  have  been  con- 
sulted, and  in  some  cases  complete  interiors  have 
been  reconstructed  by  their  aid.  The  richest  mine 
of  wealth,  however,  has  been  the  newspapers  of 
Colonial  days.  The  publications  of  Messrs.  Zenger, 
Gaine,  Holt,  Parker  and  Rivington  have  been  ex- 
haustively searched  ; and  items  of  news  that  serve  to 
elucidate  the  life  of  the  old  days,  and  advertisements 
of  the  merchants  who  catered  to  the  needs  and  pleas- 
ures of  the  community,  have  been  carefully  gathered 
and  classified. 

The  picture  here  presented  of  the  home  of  a pros- 
perous citizen  is  therefore  no  fanciful  one,  since  the 
facts  as  given  tell  their  own  story  convincingly.  This 
is  not  a book  of  opinions  but  of  facts  : in  all  cases  I 
have  endeavoured  to  avoid  all  personal  prejudice  and 
favour,  and  merely  to  reproduce  the  social  life  of  the 

viii 


Preface 

Georgian  Age  with  the  minimum  of  personal  com- 
ment, occasionally  indicating  the  connection  between 
the  fashions  and  tastes  of  that  day  in  New  York  and 
those  of  the  mother  country. 

To  many  people,  the  facts  here  presented  will  be 
fresh  and  full  of  interest.  To  others,  perhaps,  the 
illustrations  showing  articles  that  were  actually  in  the 
possession  of  old  citizens  famous  in  their  day  will  be 
even  more  interesting.  The  Waltons,  Ver  Plancks, 
Beekmans,  de  Peysters,  Alexanders,  Duanes,  Living- 
stons, Jays,  de  Lanceys  and  others,  who  were  prom- 
inent in  the  mercantile  and  official  life  of  the  period, 
have  left  many  descendants  who  still  possess  and  prize 
useful  and  ornamental  articles  that  belonged  to  their 
ancestors. 

By  the  courtesy  of  the  present  owners,  these  ob- 
jects have  been  specially  photographed  for  this  book, 
and  many  of  them  have  never  appeared  in  any  pub- 
lication hitherto.  It  will  be  noticed  that  among  the 
illustrations  are  several  portraits  of  social  leaders  of 
the  period,  and  that  on  other  pages  appear  articles 
that  belonged  to  them.  The  quaint  tail-pieces  of  the 
chapters  are  fac-simile  reproductions  of  various  adver- 
tisements that  occur  in  the  columns  of  the  news- 
papers. 

I have  to  tender  my  best  thanks  to  those  ladies 
who  have  kindly  allowed  me  to  illustrate  my  book 
with  pictures  of  their  precious  heirlooms  ; and  to  the 


IX 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

New  York  Historical  Society,  and  especially  to  its 
librarian,  Mr.  Robert  Ivelby,  to  whose  kindness  I am 
greatly  indebted  for  the  privilege  of  using  its  priceless 
collections. 

E.  S. 


New  York,  October  20,  1902. 


CONTENTS 


PART  I 


ASPECTS  OF  THE  SMALL  TOWN 

PAGE 

I.  THE  CITY  AND  ITS  STREETS, 3“H 

II.  VACANT  LAND  AND  TYPICAL  HOUSES,  . . . 15-26 

III.  HOUSE-BUILDING,  FIRES,  RENTS  AND  MAILS,  . 27-39 

IV.  COUNTRY-SEATS  AND  FARMS, 40-48 


PART  II 

HOUSES  AND  FURNITURE 

I.  EVIDENCES  OF  LUXURIOUS  LIVING,  . . . 53-65 

II.  LIVING-ROOMS  AND  THEIR  CONTENTS,  . . 66-78 

III.  CABINET-MAKERS  AND  VENDUE  SALES,  . . 79-87 

IV.  WALLS,  PICTURES  AND  LOOKING-GLASSES,  . 88-102 

V.  BEDS,  CHAIRS,  TABLES  AND  CLOCKS,  . . . 103-115 


PART  III 

TABLE  FURNISHINGS 

I.  CHINA:  USEFUL  AND  ORNAMENTAL,  . . . 1 19-132 

II.  PLATE:  TANKARDS,  PUNCH-BOWLS  AND  CAN- 
DLESTICKS, . . 133-144 

III.  TEAPOTS,  URNS  AND  SPOONS,  ....  145-158 

IV.  PEWTER,  GLASSWARE,  CUTLERY  AND  BRASS,  . 159-168 


XI 


Contents 


PART  IV 


COSTUMES  OF  MEN 

PAGE 

I.  THE  MAN  OF  FASHION:  HIS  WIGS  AND  HATS,  . 171-180 

II.  THE  CLOTHES  MEN  WORE, 181-186 

III.  COATS,  BUTTONS,  SHOES  AND  GLOVES,  . . 187-197 


PART  V 


THE  DRESS  OF  WOMEN 


I. 

TOILET,  PAINTS  AND  PERFUMES,  . 

- 

. 201-208 

II. 

HAIR-DRESSING,  CAPS  AND  HATS,  . 

- 

. 209-219 

III. 

GLOVES,  SHOES  AND  STAYS, 

- 

. 220-228 

IV. 

HOOPS  AND  MANTUA-MAKERS, 

. 

. 229-239 

V. 

EXTRAVAGANCE  AND  ECONOMY, 

. 240-249 

VI. 

JEWELRY  AND  ORNAMENTS,  . 

. 

. 250-256 

PART 

VI 

AMUSEMENTS 

I. 

OUTDOOR  SPORTS, 

- 

• 

. 259-271 

II. 

THEATRES,  .... 

- 

. 272-285 

III. 

MUSIC, 

- 

. 286-300 

IV. 

BALLS,  ASSEMBLIES  AND 

PUBLIC 

ENTERTAIN- 

MENTS,  .... 

- 301-315 

V. 

SHOWS  AND  EXHIBITIONS, 

. 

. 316-326 

Contents 


PART  VII 

MANNERS , FOOD  AND  CULTURE 

PAGE 

I.  ACCOMPLISHMENTS, 329-341 

II.  FOOD  FROM  THE  FIELDS  AND  THE  SEA,  . . 342-354 

III.  MARKETS  AND  COOKERY, 355-364 

IV.  TAVERNS  AND  TEA-GARDENS, 365-372 

V.  FASHION  AND  LUXURY, 373-385 

VI.  EXTRAVAGANCE  AND  A RETURN  TO  SIMPLICITY,  386-395 

CONCLUSION, 395-396 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

THE  VAN  CORTLANDT  HOUSE,  ....  Frontispiece 
CHIPPENDALE  SECRETARY  AND  BOOK-CASE,  . io 

BEDROOM  IN  THE  VAN  CORTLANDT  HOUSE,  . .23 

HOUSE  TO  BE  SOLD  OR  LET  (Tail-piece),  . . . .26 

SILVER  TEA-KETTLE  AND  STAND, 36 

THE  LONDON  PACKET  (Tail-piece), 39 

KITCHEN  IN  THE  VAN  CORTLANDT  HOUSE,  . . .49 

CHAIRS, . 54 

SIX-LEGGED  HIGH  CASE-OF-DRAWERS, 57 

CHAIRS  AND  WRITING-DESK, 62 

“MEN,  WOMEN,  BOYS  AND  GIRLS”  (Tail-piece)  . . .65 

CHILD’S  ROCKING-CHAIR  AND  CRADLE,  . . . .67 

CHAIRS, 71 

MAHOGANY  DINING-TABLE, 75 

JAR  AND  BEAKERS  OF  HIZEN  WARE, 77 

SIGN  OF  ANDREW  GAUTIER  (Tail-piece), 78 


MAHOGANY  TABLE, 

SIGN  OF  THOMAS  BURLING  (Tail-piece),  . 

SPECIMEN  OF  WALL-PAPER, 

GROUP  OF  CHINA, 

DRAWING  ROOM  MANTEL-PIECE,  BEEKMAN  HOUSE, 

CHIPPENDALE  MIRROR, 

DECORATED  TEA  TRAY,  


85 

87 

89 

93 

94 
96 


XV 


List  of  Illustrations 

PAGE 

THE  KING’S  ARMS  (Tail-piece), 102 

CHAIRS, 104 

CHEST-UPON-CHEST, 108 

CHAIR  AND  TEA-TABLE, 114 

SIGN  OF  THOMAS  ASH  (Tail-piece) . .115 

GROUP  OF  ORNAMENTAL  EARTHENWARE,  . . . .120 

WHITE  ENAMELLED  AND  SALT  GLAZE  EARTHENWARE,  . 124 

LOWESTOFT  CHINA, 126 

VASES,  BOWL  AND  PLATE, 129 

GROUP  OF  WEDGWOOD, 130 

SILVER  TANKARD, 134 

SILVER  CANDLESTICKS, 136 

GROUP  OF  SILVER  BELONGING  TO  THE  SANDS  AND  RAY 

FAMILIES, .138 

SILVER  PUNCH  BOWL, 140 

THE  PHILA  (Tail-piece),  ........  144 

URN,  COFFEE-POT,  SPOONS,  ETC., 147 

SILVER  CANDLESTICKS, 150 

GROUP  OF  SILVER  BELONGING  TO  THE  de  PEYSTER 

FAMILY, 153 

GROUP  OF  SILVER  BELONGING  TO  THE  COX  AND  ALEX- 
ANDER FAMILIES,  156 

SIGN  OF  SMITH  RICHARDS  (Tail-piece), 158 

DRESSER  AND  CHAIRS, . 160 

SPOONS,  KNIVES  AND  FORKS,  .......  164 

KNIFE-BOXES  AND  SPOON-CASE, 166 

SIGN  OF  JAMES  YOULE  (Tail-piece),  . . . - - - 168 

MINIATURE  OF  LEWIS  MORRIS, 173 


XVI 


List  of  Illustrations 

PAGE 

ARTICLES  BELONGING  TO  WILLIAM  BEEKMAN,  . . .179 

SIGN  OF  NESBITT  DEANE  (Tail-piece), 180 

PORTRAIT  OF  WILLIAM  BEEKMAN, 183 

HOUSE  (Tail-piece), 186 

WHITE  SILK  WAISTCOAT, 189 

SHOE,  STOCK  AND  KNEE  BUCKLES,  WATCHES,  ETC.,  . 191 

PORTRAIT  OF  RICHARD  RAY, 195 

THE  SHIP  HOPE  (Tail-piece), 197 

PORTRAIT  OF  MRS.  RICHARD  RAY, 202 

PORTRAIT  OF  MRS.  PIERRE  VALLETTE  (MARIA  JAY) , . .206 

SIGN  OF  G.  DUYCKINCK  (Tail-piece), 208 

GREEN  AND  BLUE  SILK  CALASHES, 213. 

PORTRAIT  OF  MRS.  JAMES  DUANE  (MARIA  LIVINGSTON),  . 218- 

SIGN  OF  JOHN  BURCHET  (Tail-piece), 219 

FRENCH  FAN, 223 

FRENCH  FAN, 225 

PORTRAIT  OF  CATHARINE  ELMENDORPH,  . . . .227 

SIGN  OF  JOHN  MILLIGAN  (Tail-piece), 228 

PIECE  OF  MARY  VAN  CORTLANDT’S  WEDDING-DRESS 

(1727), 230- 

GROUP  OF  CUT  GLASS, 232 

PIECE  OF  EMBROIDERED  LUTESTRING,  ....  234 

GOWN  SPRIGGED  WITH  SILVER, 238 

GOWN  OF  GAUZE  EMBROIDERED  IN  SILVER,  . . .242 

PORTRAIT  OF  CORNELIA  BEEKMAN, 247 

SIGN  OF  PETER  HULICK  (Tail-piece),  .....  249 

LORGNETTE  AND  WATCHES  OWNED  BY  ANGELICA 

SCHUYLER  CHURCH, 251 

xvii 


List  of  Illustrations 

PAGE 

SET  OF  JEWELRY, 255 

PASTE  AND  MARQUISATE  NECKLACES,  BRACELETS,  EAR- 
RINGS, ETC., 256 

SILVER  BOWL, 260 

SWORD,  FANS,  CANES,  ETC., 263 

BRASS  HEARTH-FURNITURE,  266 

SILVER  CANDLESTICKS, 270 

BULL-BAITING  (Tail-piece), 271 

SILVER  OWNED  BY  THE  DUANE,  JONES  AND  BOWERS 

FAMILIES, 273 

SILVER  TEA-POT, 275 

SPINET  MADE  BY  JOHANNES  HITCHCOCK,  . . . .278 

CHAIRS, 282 

SILVER  TEA  SET, ...  284 

THE  BRIG  THOMAS  (Tail-piece), 285 

HARPSICHORD  MADE  BY  JACOBUS  KIRKMAN,  . . .287 

SECRETARY, 291 

PORTRAIT  OF  WILLIAM  WALTON,  . . . . .294 

PORTRAIT  OF  MRS.  WILLIAM  WALTON,  . . . .297 

STAGE-WAGGON  (Tail-piece),  .......  300 

DRESS  OWNED  BY  ANGELICA  SCHUYLER,  . . . .302 

DRESS  OWNED  BY  SUSANNAH  de  LANCEY,  . . . .305 

DRESS  OWNED  BY  JUDITH  C.  VER  PLANCK,  . . . 307 

LOCKET  SET  WITH  DIAMONDS, 309 

TEA-TABLE  AND  SILVER  MUGS,  . . . . . .312 

CHAIRS, 

HOUSE  AND  LOT  (Tail-piece), 

MAHOGANY  TABLE,  . 

xviii 


3H 

315 

318 


List  of  Illustrations 

PAGE 

PAINTED  TRAY  AND  PLATED  WARE, 321 

MAHOGANY  AND  GILDED  MIRROR, 324 

MAHOGANY  CARD  TABLE, 326 

EMBROIDERY,  . . . 329 

SAMPLER, 333 

SPINNING-WHEEL,  336 

SAMPLER, 340 

EFFIGY  OF  MR.  RIVINGTON  (Tail-piece), 341 

PART  OF  ALMANAC, 344 

WINE  BOTTLES,  GLASSES  AND  KETTLE,  . . . .348 

CHOCOLATE  POT, 352 

SIGN  OF  ABRAHAM  DELANOY  (Tail-piece),  . . . .354 

DUTCH  CABINET, 356 

CHINA  HORSES, 361 

CHAIR. 363 

SIGN  OF  GEORGE  WEBSTER  (Tail-piece), 364 

PLATED  WARE, 368 

SILVER  OWNED  BY  THE  BOWERS,  CROOKE,  BLEECKER 

AND  DUANE  FAMILIES, 371 

FERDINAND  (Tail-piece),  ........  372 

SNUFF-BOXES  AND  OTHER  ARTICLES,  . . . .376 

GOLD  SNUFF-BOX,  . 379 

RUNAWAY  NEGRO  SLAVE  (Tail-piece), 385 

VERNIS  MARTIN  BOX,  SINGING-BIRDS,  ETC.,  . . .388 

SILVER  SALVER, 394 


XIX 


PART  L 

ASPECTS  OF  THE  SMALL  TOWN 


I 


PART  I 


ASPECTS  OF  THE  SMALL  TOWN 


I 

THE  CITY  AND  ITS  STREETS 

No  city  was  ever  more  beautifully  situated  than 
New  York.  Commercially,  also,  its  favourable  posi- 
tion could  not  help  rendering  it  the  metropolis  of  a 
hemisphere.  During  the  early  years  of  its  settlement, 
every  traveller  was  struck  with  its  natural  beauty. 
Coming  up  the  bay,  whose  shores  at  that  date  were 
abundantly  wooded,  the  quaint  little  town  lying  at 
the  southern  point  of  Manhattan  Island  must  have 
formed  a picture  that  was  perfectly  delightful.  It  is 
doubtful  if  any  city  was  ever  so  important  commer- 
cially and  politically  in  proportion  to  its  size.  What 
Goa  or  Batavia  was  to  the  Orient,  New  York  was  to 
the  Western  Hemisphere.  Ships  with  manufactures 
and  the  products  of  the  earth  arrived  daily  from  Eu- 
rope and  the  West  Indies.  This  little  port  was  a 
great  mart  and  clearing-house. 

Its  size,  however,  remained  insignificant  all  through 
the  Eighteenth  Century.  In  1712,  two  years  before 
George  I.  came  to  the  throne,  the  city  contained 
only  5,816  inhabitants,  of  whom  970  were  blacks. 
This  number  rose  to  8,882  in  1731,  and  21,863  forty 

3 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

years  later.  In  1744,  there  were  only  1,141  houses; 
and  in  1751,  only  2,059.  Four  years  later  the  num- 
ber was  2,200.  In  1766,  there  were  3,223,  distributed 
as  follows:  East  Ward,  521;  North  Ward,  487; 
South  Ward,  314;  Out  Ward  (exclusive  of  the  dis- 
trict of  Harlem),  270  ; Dock  Ward,  287  ; and  Mont- 
gomerie Ward,  664.  I11  1773,  the  city  contained 

18,726  whites,  and  2,737  blacks. 

Approaching  the  city,  the  principal  front  of  which 
faced  Long  Island,  the  first  building  that  struck  the 
eye  was  the  Fort,  the  southern  end  of  which  was  built 
on  rocks  at  the  water’s  edge.  It  extended  from  the 
present  Greenwich  Street  and  Battery  Place  to  the 
junction  of  Whitehall  Street  and  Front  Street.  Be- 
yond this,  old  prints  show  a cluster  of  quaint  houses 
topped  by  a few  spires,  and  then  the  ground  un- 
dulates with  low  hills  and  woods  in  the  distance. 
Within  the  Fort,  lived  the  Governor,  whose  house 
was  burnt  in  1741,  and  again  in  1773.  On  this  site, 
the  new  Custom  House  is  now  (1902)  in  course  of 
erection. 

In  early  days,  the  city  had  been  stockaded  as  a 
protection  against  Indians.  In  1745,  the  dread  of  a 
French  and  Indian  invasion  was  so  great  that  a line 
of  palisades  and  blockhouses  was  built  around  the 
northern  end  of  the  town  from  river  to  river.  It  was 
constructed  of  cedar  logs  about  fourteen  feet  long 
and  nine  or  ten  inches  in  diameter,  placed  in  a trench 
with  loop-holes  for  muskets.  The  breast-work  was 
four  feet  high,  and  four  feet  wide.  There  were  three 
blockhouses,  thirty  feet  square  and  ten  feet  high,  with 
six  port-holes  for  cannon.  They  were  made  of  logs. 

4 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

There  were  four  gates,  or  outlets,  to  the  city  : in 
Pearl  Street,  Chatham  Square,  Broadway  and  Green- 
wich Street.  The  palisades  started  from  James  and 
Cherry  Street,  ran  diagonally  across  Duane  Street  and 
Pearl  Street,  and  so  irregularly  west,  south  of  Fresh 
Water  and  north  of  Warren  Street. 

In  1753,  an  enthusiastic  author  writes  : 

“ With  respect  to  what  Nature  has  done  for  us  there  is  not 
a happier  People  in  the  World  than  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Province.  I have  myself  spent  a month  in  their  Metropolis, 
the  most  splendid  Town  in  North  America.  Everything  in  it 
conspires  to  make  New  York  the  best  Mart  on  the  Continent. 
Our  Coasts  are  regular  and  by  a good  Lighthouse  might  be 
rendered  safe  and  easy. 

“The  City  of  New  York  consists  of  about  twenty-five  hun- 
dred buildings.  It  is  a mile  in  length,  and  at  a Medium,  not 
above  half  that  in  breadth.  On  the  South  it  forms  a Point  into 
a large  Bay.  The  East  side  lies  on  a Streight  which  at  eighteen 
or  twenty  miles  Eastward  opens  to  the  Sound.  It  adjoins  to 
the  Hudson  river  on  the  West  and  such  is  its  Figure,  its  Centre 
of  Business  and  the  Situation  of  its  Buildings,  that  the  Cartage 
in  Town  from  one  part  to  another  does  not  at  a Medium  exceed 
one-quarter  of  a mile.  The  prodigious  Advantage  of  which  to 
a trading  City  is  more  easily  conceived  than  expressed.  It 
facilitates  and  expedites  the  lading  and  unlading  of  Ships  and 
Boats,  saves  Time  and  Labour,  and  is  attended  with  Innumer- 
able Conveniences  to  its  inhabitants.” 

A few  more  impressions  recorded  by  contempo- 
rary visitors  will  help  us  to  give  a clear  idea  of  the 
aspect  and  character  of  the  town.  In  1748,  Kalm 
wrote  : 

“ In  size  it  comes  nearest  to  Boston  and  Philadelphia;  but 
with  regard  to  its  fine  buildings,  its  opulence,  and  extensive 
commerce,  it  disputes  the  preference  with  them.” 

5 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Describing  the  streets,  he  said  : 

“ Most  of  them  are  paved,  except  in  high  places,  where  it 
has  been  found  useless.  In  the  chief  streets  there  are  trees 
planted,  which  in  summer  give  them  a fine  appearance,  and 
during  the  excessive  heat  at  that  time,  afford  a cooling  shade. 
I found  it  extremely  pleasant  to  walk  in  the  town,  for  it 
seemed  quite  like  a garden. 

“ The  trees  which  were  planted  for  this  purpose  are  chiefly 
of  two  kinds  ; the  water  beech  is  the  most  numerous,  and 
gives  an  agreeable  shade  in  summer,  by  its  large  and  numerous 
leaves.  The  locust  tree  is  likewise  frequent;  its  fine  leaves 
and  the  odoriferous  scent  which  exhales  from  its  flowers  make 
it  very  proper  for  being  planted  in  the  streets,  near  the  houses 
and  in  gardens.  There  are  likewise  lime-trees  and  elms  in 
these  walks,  but  they  are  not,  by  far,  as  frequent  as  the  others. 
One  seldom  meets  with  trees  of  the  same  sort  adjoining  each 
other,  they  being  in  general  placed  alternately.  Besides  num- 
bers of  birds  of  all  kinds,  which  make  these  trees  their  abode, 
there  are  likewise  a kind  of  frogs,  which  frequent  them  in 
great  numbers  during  the  summer.  They  are  very  clamorous 
in  the  evening,  and  in  the  nights  (especially  when  the  days  have 
been  hot,  and  the  rain  is  expected,)  and  in  a manner  drown  the 
singing  of  the  birds.  They  frequently  make  such  a noise  that 
it  is  difficult  for  a person  to  make  himself  heard. 

“ Most  of  the  houses  are  built  of  bricks;  and  are  generally 
strong  and  neat,  and  several  stories  high.  Some  had,  accord- 
ing to  old  architecture,  turned  the  gable -end  towards  the 
streets;  but  the  new  houses  were  altered  in  this  respect. 
Many  of  the  houses  had  a balcony  on  the  roof,  on  which  the 
people  used  to  sit  in  the  evenings  in  the  summer  season ; and 
thence  they  had  a pleasant  view  of  a great  part  of  the  town 
and  likewise  a part  of  the  adjacent  water  and  of  the  opposite 
shore.  The  roofs  are  commonly  covered  with  tiles,  or  shingles; 
the  latter  of  which  are  made  of  the  white  fir  tree,  or  Finns 
Strobus,  which  grows  higher  up  in  the  country.  The  inhabi- 
tants are  of  opinion  that  a roof  made  of  these  shingles  is  as 
durable  as  one  made  in  Pennsylvania  of  the  white  cedar  or 

6 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

Cupressus  thyoides.  The  walls  were  whitewashed  within,  and  I 
did  not  any  where  see  hangings,  with  which  the  people  in  this 
country  seem  in  general  to  be  little  acquainted.  The  walls 
were  quite  covered  with  all  sorts  of  drawings  and  pictures  in 
small  frames.  On  each  side  of  the  chimnies  they  usually  had 
a sort  of  alcove;  and  the  wall  under  the  windows  was  wain- 
scoted, and  had  benches  placed  near  it.  The  alcoves  and  all 
the  woodwork  were  painted  with  a bluish  grey  colour.” 

Ill  1781,  the  traveller,  Anburey,  wrote: 

“The  city  of  New  York  stands  on  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  island,  and  its  situation  is  extremely  delightful  ; com- 
manding such  a variety  of  prospects-,  as  are  the  most  charming 
that  can  be  conceived.  The  city  is  mostly  built  upon  the 
East  River,  on  account  of  the  harbour.  In  many  of  the  streets 
are  rows  of  trees  on  each  side  to  shelter  from  the  amazing 
heats  in  summer.  Most  of  the  houses  are  built  with  brick, 
very  strong  and  neat,  and  several  stories  high  ; many  of  them 
have  balconies  on  the  roof,  where  company  sit  in  the  summer 
evenings,  to  enjoy  the  prospect  of  the  opposite  shores  and  har- 
bour ; and  the  roofs  are  covered  with  shingles.  The  streets 
are  paved  and  clean,  but  in  general  very  narrow ; there  are 
two  or  three  indeed  which  are  spacious  and  airy.  The  length 
of  the  town  is  somewhat  more  than  a mile,  and  the  breadth  of 
it  about  half  a mile.” 

The  authorities  of  the  city  were  then  possessed  of 
a great  deal  of  civic  pride.  They  took  pains  to  make 
the  city  beautiful  and  keep  it  neat.  Many  laws 
show  this.  Before  examining  the  houses,  it  will 
therefore  be  well  to  look  at  a few  of  the  ordinances 
dealing  with  streets  and  city  life. 

In  1713,  an  Act  was  passed  for  mending  and 
keeping  in  repair  the  post  road  from  New  York  to 
Kingsbridge.  The  road  was  in  a ruinous  condition. 
It  was  to  “ Be  laid  out  the  breadth  of  four  rod  and 
cleared  the  breadth  of  two  rodd  at  least.” 


7 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

The  constable  had  a plenty  of  work  to  do,  for  the 
city  contained  a considerable  amount  of  lawlessness. 
It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  the  law’s  retalia- 
tion was  at  least  as  savage  as  the  crimes  that  offended 
it.  Negroes  often  gave  trouble,  though  probably 
they  were  not  as  bad  as  the  low  piratical  whites  who 
haunted  the  wharves  and  drinking  dens  of  New  York 
as  of  any  other  port.  Coiners  and  note  forgers  often 
“ found  how  hard  it  is  apt  to  go  when  the  law  and 
the  thief  have  quarrels.”  The  more  humane  punish- 
ments were  imprisonment,  ducking,  whipping,  pil- 
lorying, branding  and  hanging.  In  173 6,  the  Public 
Whipper  was  Edward  Breuwen.  On  Jan.  15th  of 
that  year  he  received  £2 — 10 — o for  his  quarter’s  sal- 
ary and  fifteen  shillings  “ for  sitting  in  the  pillory,  and 
whipping  through  the  town  at  a cart’s  tail  one  Pat- 
rick Butler  for  issueing  counterfeited  dollars.”  Fif- 
teen years  later  this  official’s  pay  was  increased.  In 
1751,  it  was  announced  that  “The  Public  Whipper 
of  the  City  of  New  York  being  lately  dead  ; if  any 
Person  inclines  to  accept  that  office  with  2o£  a year, 
he  may  apply  to  the  Mayor  and  be  entered.” 

Punishments  were  innumerable.  Among  many 
may  be  instanced  the  case  of  John  Morris,  who  in 
1768  for  sheep-stealing  was  found  guilty,  but  was 
granted  the  benefit  of  the  clergy,  burnt  in  the  hand 
and  discharged.  The  following  year  Daniel  Martin 
received  fifteen  lashes  for  stealing  fiddle  strings.  For 
defrauding  and  cheating,  Richard  Ely  “was  exalted 
on  a wooden  horse  on  a triumphal  car  with  labels  on 
his  breast ; after  which  he  was  conducted  to  the  pub- 
lic whipping-post  where  he  received  a proper  chastise- 

8 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

ment.”  In  1769,  a certain  John  Jubeart,  for  passing 
false  dollars,  was  executed  “at  the  stone  fence,”  near 
the  city.  The  frail  of  the  opposite  sex  were  treated 
with  equal  severity,  and  negroes  were  sometimes 
burnt  at  the  stake.  The  savage  nature  of  the  pun- 
ishments did  not  always  instil  greater  respect  for  the 
law.  On  one  occasion  while  witnessing  an  execution 
for  grand  larceny  a gentleman  had  his  pocket  picked 
beside  the  gallows.  From  1725  to  1756,  the  site  of 
the  gallows  was  on  the  Common  : in  the  latter  year 
this  was  removed  “to  the  place  where  the  negroes 
were  burnt  some  five  years  before  called  Catiemut’s 
Hill  near  Fresh  Water.” 

Looking  after  the  safety  of  the  city  was  consid- 
ered the  duty  of  every  inhabitant.  In  1731,  there 
was  declared  to  be  a great  necessity  of  a strong  and 
sufficient  watch  to  be  kept  every  night  in  New  York 
for  the  safety  and  peace  of  the  said  city.  Therefore, 
all  householders  in  the  six  wards,  “ Being  able  and  fit 
to  watch,  or  to  find  an  able  and  fit  person  to  watch 
for  him,  her  or  them,  or  in  his,  her,  or  their  stead,  do 
and  ought,  by  reason  of  their  habitation,  occupation 
and  dwelling,  to  keep  watch  within  the  said  city  for 
the  preservation  of  the  king’s  peace  and  for  the  ar- 
resting and  apprehending  of  all  night-walkers,  male- 
factors and  suspected  persons  which  shall  be  found 
passing,  wandering  and  misbehaving  themselves.” 
Of  late  years  great  numbers  were  declared  to  have 
come  privately  into  the  city,  some  of  whom  were 
suspected  to  be  English  convicts.  Hence  the  ne- 
cessity for  a strong  watch.  The  Act  called  for  a 
constable  and  eight  watchmen  every  night,  and  equal 

9 


Chippendale  secretary  and  book-case, 
See  page  ill. 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

duty  was  to  be  performed  by  every  ward  in  the  fol- 
lowing order  : East,  Dock,  North,  South,  West  and 
Montgomerie.  No  boys  or  servants  were  to  be  ad- 
mitted as  watchmen.  The  Negro  Plot  afterwards 
for  a time  made  necessary  military  watches. 

Night-hawks  and  Mohocks  were  by  no  means  un- 
known in  New  York.  They  do  not  appear  to  have 
committed  such  brutal  excesses  as  made  them  hated 
and  feared  in  the  English  metropolis,  but  they  some- 
times indulged  in  the  gentle  and  joyous  pastime  of 
beating  the  watch,  wrenching  off  door  knockers  and 
breaking  street-lamps.  In  1751,  a law  was  passed  to 
curb  the  exuberance  of  nocturnal  vivacity.  It  recites 
that  sundry  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  as  well  for  the  prevention  of  several  evil  prac- 
tices usually  committed  in  the  night-time,  as  for  the 
convenience  of  persons  using  the  streets  about  their 
lawful  business,  are  willing  at  their  own  expense  to 
hang  out  lamps  to  illuminate  the  streets  of  the  said 
city,  but  are  discouraged  therefrom  for  fear  that  such 
lamps  may  be  broken,  taken  down,  destroyed  or  car- 
ried away,  or  the  lights  therein  put  out  or  extin- 
guished. For  every  such  offence  a forfeit  of  £ 20 
was  provided. 

We  occasionally  come  upon  evidence  of  the  pranks 
played  by  those  Roaring  Boys.  Two  months  after 
the  passage  of  the  above  Act,  we  find  the  following 
(February  3,  1752)  : “ Last  Monday  night  several  of 
the  glass  lamps  put  up  about  the  City  were  taken 
down  by  Persons  unknown  and  left  whole  in  the 
Meal  Market  altogether.  It  is  thought  to  be  done 
by  some  daring  Rakes,  in  order  to  convince  the  own- 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

ers  how  easy  those  lamps  might  be  demolished  with- 
out discovery.”  Another  and  more  serious  occur- 
rence is  reported  in  July,  1766  : 

“Four  officers  sallied  from  a tavern  where  they  had  drunk 
too  freely  and  near  the  college  began  to  break  the  city  lamps. 
A man  who  keeps  a public  house  there  happened  to  be  up  and 
leaning  over  his  door,  upon  his  reproving  them,  they  gave  him 
abusive  language,  rushed  into  the  house,  attacked  him  with 
their  swords  and  wounded  him  in  the  arm.  Then  they  alarmed 
and  terrified  the  family  and  lodgers,  some  of  whom  they  pulled 
from  their  beds.  After  this — they  proceeded  down  the  Broad 
Way  and  broke  34  lamps.  Meeting  the  watch  they  wounded 
several,  but  one  officer  was  arrested.  The  others  then  went 
for  help  and  rescued  their  companion.  The  next  day  they 
were  held  under  heavy  bail  for  the  Supreme  Court.  The  pen- 
alty was  ^20  for  each  lamp.” 

In  1771,  suggestions  were  made  for  improving 
the  lighting  of  the  streets.  It  was  recommended 
that  the  lamps  should  be  ten  feet  high  and  at  a dis- 
tance of  fifty  feet  from  one  another  and  four  feet  out 
from  the  houses,  the  diameter  of  the  lamp  globe  be- 
ing ten  inches. 

Among  the  acts  regulating  good  order  in  streets 
we  find  that  in  1725,  the  nuisance  of  dogs  running 
loose  was  remedied  by  legislation.  The  Act  recites 
that  “ The  butchers  and  other  inhabitants  of  this  city 
superabound  in  a very  great  number  of  mischievous 
mastiffs,  bull-dogs  and  other  useless  dogs,  who  not 
only  run  at  coaches,  horses,  chaises,  and  cattle  in  the 
daytime,  whereby  much  mischief  has  ensued,  but  in 
the  night-time  are  left  in  the  streets  of  this  city  and 
frequently  tear,  bite  and  kill  several  cows  and  render 
the  passage  of  the  inhabitants  upon  their  lawful  occa- 


12 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 


sions  very  dangerous  ...  by  attacking  and  dying  at 
them.” 

In  i73i,several  important  municipal  ordinances 
were  passed.  One  was  intended  to  check  mad  riding 
through  the  streets  by  slaves  as  they  took  their  masters’ 
horses  to  water.  If  the  streets  were  sometimes  in  a de- 
plorable condition,  as  complaints  in  the  papers  would 
argue,  this  was  not  because  the  city  fathers  were  in- 
different. In  1731,  a law  declared  that  “the  former 
laws  of  this  city  made  for  paving  the  streets  within 
the  same  have  been  much  neglected,  whereby  the 
citizens  and  sojourners  within  the  said  city  are  much 
annoyed,  and  the  intercourse  of  trade  among  the  in- 
habitants thereby  much  lessened.”  All  inhabitants  of 
houses  or  owners  of  lots  fronting  on  any  street,  lane 
or  alley  were  therefore  commanded  (at  the  expense 
of  the  landlord)  to  pave  the  walk  in  front  and  keep  it 
in  repair. 

In  the  same  year,  a law  was  passed  prohibiting 
any  person  from  casting  into  the  streets,  docks,  or 
slips,  ashes,  oyster-shells,  or  any  kind  of  carrion  or 
filth.  People  were  forbidden  to  encumber  the  streets 
with  building-material.  The  inhabitants,  moreover, 
“shall  on  every  Friday,  rake  and  sweep  together  all 
the  dirt,  filth  and  soil  lying  in  the  streets  before  their 
respective  dwelling-houses,  upon  heaps,  and  on  the 
same  day,  or  on  the  Saturday  following,  shall  cause 
the  same  to  be  carried  away  and  thrown  into  the 
river,  or  some  other  convenient  place.” 

The  law  for  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  in 
New  York  in  1731  prohibited  servile  work  and  buy- 
ing and  selling.  It  also  forbade  children,  youths, 

13 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

maids  or  other  persons  to  meet  and  sport,  play,  or 
make  noise  or  disturbance.  No  tavern-keepers  were 
to  serve  customers  other  than  travellers  during  divine 
service  or  preaching.  During  service,  two  or  more 
of  the  constables  of  the  six  wards  walked  through  the 
several  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city  with  their  staffs 
and  took  care  that  the  law  was  duly  observed.  It 
was  enacted  “ that  if  any  children,  youth,  apprentices, 
servants,  or  other  persons,  do  fire  and  discharge  any 
gun,  or  pistol  at  any  mark,  or  at  random  against  any 
fence,  pales,  or  within  any  orchard  or  other  inclosure, 
or  in  any  place  where  persons  frequent  to  walk,”  the 
offender  should  be  fined  twenty  shillings. 

It  was  customary  in  those  days,  as  now,  to  wel- 
come the  new  year  with  great  noise.  We  are  told, 
in  an  Act  of  1773,  that  great  damages  are  frequently 
done  on  the  eve  of  the  last  day  of  December,  and  on 
the  first  and  second  days  of  January,  by  persons 
going  from  house  to  house  with  guns  and  other  fire- 
arms, and  being  often  intoxicated  with  liquor  they 
have  not  only  put  the  inhabitants  in  great  terror,  but 
committed  many  mischiefs.  A penalty  of  twenty 
shillings  was  provided  to  stop  this. 

In  1769,  a law  was  passed  inflicting  a penalty  of 
twenty  shillings  for  firing  “any  gun,  pistol,  rocket, 
cracker,  squib,  or  other  fire-work,  in  any  street,  lane, 
or  alley,  garden  or  other  inclosure,  or  from  any  house, 
or  in  any  other  place  where  persons  frequently  walk.” 


14 


II 


VACANT  LAND  AND  TYPICAL  HOUSES 

When  Manhattan  Island  was  first  settled,  it  was 
covered  with  trees,  with  the  exception  of  the  low-lying 
salt  meadows.  Much  of  the  timber  was  soon  cleared 
away  to  make  room  for  meadows  and  gardens,  so 
necessary  to  the  comfort  and  pleasure  of  the  Eng- 
lish as  well  as  the  Dutch. 

What  is  now  Exchange  Place  was  originally  called 
Garden  Street,  and  this  Street  was  again  called  Gar- 
den Street  in  1728.  Maiden  Lane  was  originally  the 
Green  Lane.  The  Corporation  under  the  English 
rule  were  always  willing  to  have  the  city  beautified. 
The  inhabitants  in  1708  received  permission  to  plant 
trees  in  front  of  their  houses.  Fifty  years  later,  trees 
were  still  a conspicuous  feature  of  the  streets. 

Swamps,  marshes  and  streams  were  plentiful. 
Broad  Street  was  originally  a marshy  tract  through 
which  the  Dutch  had  made  the  “ Graft  ” or  canal. 
At  the  foot,  it  was  crossed  by  a bridge  that  gave  its 
name  to  Bridge  Street.  At  the  mouth  of  the  inlet 
was  one  of  the  principal  landing  places  for  vessels. 

Other  swampy  districts  that  became  well-known 
landmarks  were  Beekman’s  Swamp  or  Cripple  Bush, 
and  a swamp  on  De  Lancey’s  estate  in  Greenwich 
village.  The  former  was  below  Pearl  Street  and  was 
not  drained  till  comparatively  late.  William  Wal- 

G 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

ton’s  house  was  only  about  a hundred  yards  distant 
from  it.  In  1734,  were  “To  be  sold  6 Lotts  of  Land 
on  the  West  Side  of  the  Swamp  or  Criplebush,  3 of 
them  front  the  Road  that  leads  from  Spring  Garden 
to  the  Fresh  Water,  the  other  three  the  Street  next  to 
the  Swamp  ; there  is  4 good  small  Houses  on  them, 
one  in  the  Possession  of  Mrs.  Scot.” 

Open  spaces  even  within  the  narrow  confines  of 
the  city  were  not  inconsiderable.  Besides  gardens, 
there  were  meadows  that  were  not  occupied  by 
houses.  Duyckinck’s  map  of  1755  shows  King’s 
Farm,  west  of  Broadway,  between  Dye  and  Warren 
Streets,  with  only  “ part  of  it  layd  out  in  plots.”  On 
the  other  side  of  Broadway,  facing  the  King’s  Farm, 
was  the  Common,  or  Park,  which  at  the  northern 
end  was  separated  from  the  negroes’  burial  ground  by 
palisades.  The  latter  adjoined  Fresh  Water,  a lake 
from  which  water  flowed  down  both  to  the  North 
and  East  River.  On  the  Common,  near  the  site  of 
the  present  City  Hall,  was  a powder-house.  In  1725, 
a gallows  was  also  erected  on  the  Common. 

From  time  to  time,  we  find  complaints  of  en- 
croachments on  the  common  rights  of  citizens  by 
individuals.  As  the  houses  multiplied  and  private 
gardens  and  open  spaces  were  built  over,  the  impor- 
tance of  common  land  for  pasturage  and  recreation 
increased.  In  1767,  a writer  complaining  of  the  high 
price  of  milk  and  its  adulteration  thinks  it  arises 
“ from  the  scarcity  and  expensiveness  of  pasturage 
near  this  City;  and  this  again  proceeds  from  the  late 
practice  of  leasing  out  the  Common  Lands  to  people 
who  have  large  farms  of  their  own  adjoining.  . . . 

16 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

They  afford  us  at  a small  expense  earth  for  the  red 
brick  used  in  all  our  new  buildings  and  if  we  were 
deprived  of  those  lands  a great  advance  in  the  price 
of  bricks  would  certainly  be  the  consequence.  We 
should  also  be  deprived  of  the  stone,  now  much  used 
for  underpinning  and  other  purposes.  . . . They  might 
at  the  common  expence  be  put  into  the  best  order 
for  pasture,  meadow,  etc.,  with  proper  enclosures  and 
other  conveniences,  and  keepers  be  hired  to  look 
after  the  cattle,  and  drive  them  to  and  from  town  and 
pasture.  ...  It  is  also  worth  noting  that  since  we 
are  prohibited  from  hunting  or  shooting  upon  other 
men’s  lands,  it  is  necessary  that  the  citizens  should 
have  some  other  place  for  that  manly  diversion  or 
exercise  ; otherwise  they  will  be  in  danger  of  forget- 
ting to  use  their  firearms  with  dexterity,  however 
necessary  they  may  be  for  their  own  defence,  and  of 
sinking  into  effeminacy  and  meanness.” 

In  the  above  communication,  the  allusion  to  the 
prohibition  of  hunting  or  shooting  on  other  men’s 
lands  shows  that  an  old  grievance  had  only  lately 
been  remedied.  In  fact,  only  two  years  previously 
had  an  Act  been  passed  to  prevent  hunting  with  fire- 
arms in  the  City  of  New  York  and  the  Liberties 
thereof.  By  this  Act,  a twenty  shillings  fine  was  in- 
curred by  anybody  but  the  owner  or  his  servants 
“ that  fires  a gun  in  any  orchard,  garden,  cornfield  or 
other  inclosed  land,  or  enters  into  or  passes  through  it.” 
“ It  has  long  been  the  practice  of  great  numbers 
of  idle  and  disorderly  persons  in  and  about  the  City 
of  New  York  and  the  Liberties  thereof  to  hunt  with 
firearms  and  to  tread  down  the  grass,  and  corn,  and 
3 1 7 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

other  grain  standing  and  growing  in  the  fields  and 
enclosures  there,  to  the  great  danger  of  the  lives  of 
His  Majesty’s  subjects,  the  ruin  and  destruction  of 
the  most  valuable  improvements,  the  grievous  injury 
of  the  proprietors,  and  the  great  discouragement  of 
their  industry.” 

Another  open  space  was  in  front  of  the  Fort.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  English  rule,  a market  fair  had 
been  ordered  to  be  held  every  Thursday,  Friday  and 
Saturday  “ att  the  market-house  and  plaine  afore  the 
Forte.”  Later,  however,  it  was  called  The  Parade, 
on  account  of  the  English  garrison  exercising  here. 
In  1732,  the  Corporation  resolved  to  “lease  a piece 
of  land  lying  at  the  lower  end  of  Broadway,  fronting 
the  Fort  to  some  of  the  inhabitants,  in  order  to  be 
enclosed  to  make  a Bowling-Green  there,  with  walks 
therein,  for  the  beauty  and  ornament  of  said  street, 
as  well  as  for  the  delight  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
city.”  It  was  leased  to  John  Chambers,  Peter  Bay- 
ard and  Peter  Jay  for  eleven  years  at  a rent  of  one 
pepper-corn  per  annum. 

The  lower  part  of  Broadway,  being  near  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Governor,  was  always  a fashionable 
quarter.  The  lots  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway 
averaged  about  fifty  feet  in  width  and  extended  back 
to  the  Hudson,  which  was  nearer  than  it  is  now. 
Where  is  now  the  corner  of  Battery  Park  and  Broad- 
way, Captain  Kennedy,  the  naval  commander  and 
collector  of  the  port,  built  a fine  dwelling-house  in 
1 760,  having  purchased  some  ground  on  which  were 
some  small  buildings  for  £66,  from  Abraham  Depey- 
ster.  The  Stevens,  Livingston  and  other  families 

18 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

followed  his  example,  and  the  shady  streteh  reach- 
ing up  to  Trinity  Church  became  known  as  the 
Mall. 

A rival  fashionable  district  was  Pearl  Street.  One 
of  the  old  houses  built  in  the  Eighteenth  Century 
survived  till  very  recently.  Here  lived  Mr.  William 
Walton,  and  his  house  and  grounds  were  typical  of 
many  a rich  city  merchant  of  his  day.  It  was  a brick 
house,  three  stories  high,  relieved  by  brown  stone 
water-tables,  jambs  and  lintels.  His  large  and  fine 
garden  extended  down  to  the  water.  Another  fine 
residence  in  this  district  was  the  de  Peyster  house, 
erected  in  1695,  in  Queen  Street,  nearly  opposite 
Cedar.  This  was  also  three  stories  high,  with  a balcony 
over  its  double  door.  Governor  Clinton  lived  here  and 
this  house  was  used  by  Washington  for  headquarters. 
At  Broad  and  Pearl  Streets,  was  the  famous  Fraunces’s 
Tavern,  still  standing. 

The  rich  merchants  sometimes  had  their  stores 
and  counting-houses  adjoining,  or  in,  their  dwellings. 
Sometimes  they  lived  in  manor-houses  or  country- 
seats  in  the  island  a few  miles  away  from  the  city 
and  drove  in  to  business.  The  merchants’  usual  busi- 
ness hours  were  from  10  a.  m.  to  2 p.  m.  In  the  middle 
of  the  century,  Hanover  Square  was  the  centre  of  trade  ; 
here  were  the  counting-houses  of  Walton,  Desbrosses, 
Borche,  and  other  great  merchants  of  the  City  ; Lewis 
Morris  lived  here,  and  so  did  the  Waltons. 

We  find  houses  of  all  sizes  on  lots  of  varying 
dimensions.  A few  extracts  from  the  newspapers  will 
serve  to  show  what  kinds  of  houses  could  be  bought 
or  rented  here  : 


19 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“ A lot  of  land  lying  on  the  South  side  of  Queen’s  Street, 
thirty  two  Foot  six  Inches  Front  and  the  same  in  the  Rear,  the 
Length  being  from  said  Street  to  Low  Water  Mark  part  of  the 
ground  at  the  old  Slaughter  House.”  (1730.) 

“A  certain  House  and  Lot  of  Ground,  situate,  lying  and 
being  in  Hanover  Square  in  the  East  Ward  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  now  in  the  tenure  and  occupation  of  Mr.  John  Aubernau, 
containing  in  the  Front,  Twenty-eight  foot  in  the  Rear,  Thirty- 
five  foot;  running  from  Hanover  Square  aforesaid  to  the  Lane 
formerly  called  Drain  Ditch  and  now  The  Sloat.” 

“ The  two  lots  of  Land  with  the  Brew-House  and  Malt- 
House  thereon  and  a very  good  Well  situate  in  Ann  Street  to 
be  sold.”  (1732.) 

“ To  be  sold,  the  House  and  Lot  of  John  Symense  in  the 
Broad-Way  in  New  York,  the  House  is  as  good  as  new,  and  has 
very  good  Stone-Walls;  there  is  a small  Kitchen,  a Grass  Plot, 
Wood-Yard,  several  Fruit  Trees,  and  other  Conveniences  be- 
longing to  it,  enquire  of  John  Symense  now  in  possession  of 
the  Premises.”  (1734.) 

“A  good  dwelling-house  and  lot  of  ground  North  side  of 
Pearl  Street.  The  house  is  two  stories  high  and  has  two  rooms 
on  a floor  with  a kitchen  back,  a gang-way  on  the  side  of  it, 
with  a large  yard  back  bounded  by  the  Fort  Garden.” 

“To  be  let,  the  storehouse  of  Mr.  Isaac  Latouch’s,  adjoin- 
ing the  dwelling-house ; it  has  a very  neat  warm  room  with  a 
fireplace  annexed  to  it,  and  is  an  exceedingly  commodious  store, 
with  proper  shelves,  and  well  noted  as  a dry  goods  store.  It 
would  be  very  convenient  for  a batchelor.”  (1754.) 

“ A new  two-story  house  and  several  adjoining  lots  are  for 
sale  fronting  Fore  Street,  44  feet  and  Nassau  Street  46  feet.  It 
is  well  built  of  brick  and  stone,  has  three  rooms  on  a floor, 
seven  fireplaces  in  all,  spacious  garret,  good  kitchen,  fine  large 
cellars,  large  entry  through  the  middle  of  the  house  and  a hand- 
some staircase.  Its  situation  is  extremely  pleasant  near  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Barclay’s  and  Alderman  Van  Cortlandt’s,  where,  from 
the  chamber  windows  you  have  a beautiful  prospect  over  the 
Commons  and  up  the  North  River,  being  a seat  suitable  for  a 
gentleman  or  merchant,  having  a large  storehouse  on  the  back 

20 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 


part  40  feet  long  with  a double  door  in  the  front,  and  a very 
fine  garden,  all  in  good  fence.”  (1754.) 

“ A house  and  lot  of  ground  in  the  Broad-Way,  late  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Thomas  Duncan,  deceased,  being  in  front,  31  feet 
3-4,  in  rear,  41  feet  10-12,  in  length  on  the  north  side,  323  feet 
and  on  the  south,  321  feet  1-2:  from  the  back  of  the  lot  runs  a 
water  lot  of  41  feet,  10-12  front  and  rear  and  200  feet  in  length 
to  be  sold  with  the  house  : In  the  house  are  four  good  rooms 
on  the  first  and  second  floors,  and  an  entry  all  lined  with  hang- 
ings, besides  a fine  pantry  and  a bed  room;  also  two  conve- 
nient rooms  in  the  third  story,  a good  cellar,  a cellar  kitchen, 
underneath;  to  this  adjoins  a back  building  of  two  stories  high 
with  four  convenient  rooms  and  two  cellars.”  The  house  was 
brick.  On  the  bank  of  the  river  was  a handsome  hanging  gar- 
den, with  two  flights  of  stone  steps,  and  a summer-house  at  the 
water’s  edge.  The  yard  was  laid  with  flag  stones  and  there  were 
two  cisterns  and  a pump.”  (1761.) 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  houses  were  not  num- 
bered. They  were  identified  by  signs.  These  must 
have  made  the  streets  look  exceedingly  picturesque. 
The  signs  were  usually  appropriate  to  the  occupation 
of  the  tenant  or  owner  of  the  house.  Thus,  we  have 
John  Brinner  at  the  Sign  of  the  Chair,  a cabinet- 
maker. Other  instances  are  : C.  O.  Bruff  (gold- 
smith) Teapot  and  Tankard  ; James  Duthie  (drug- 
gist) Golden  Pot  ; Peter  Goelet  (ironmonger)  Golden 
Key ; Jacob  Wilkens  (brass-founder)  Andiron  and 
Candlestick  ; Robert  Boyle  (pewterer)  Dish  ; Peter 
T.  Curtenius  (ironmonger)  Golden  Anvil  and  Ham- 
mer ; Joseph  Cox  (upholsterer  and  cabinet-maker) 
Royal  Bed  and  Star  ; Thomas  Brown  (ironmonger) 
Cross-daggers ; Samuel  Lawrence  (coach-maker)  Char- 
iot and  Phaeton  ; Cornelius  Ryan  (tailor)  Sun  and 
Breeches;  Jos.  Stephens  and  Jno.  Newstead  (livery 

21 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


stable)  Two  Running  Horses  ; Moses  Taylor  (brazier) 
Cat  and  Kettle  ; William  Anderson  (tailor)  Hand 
and  Shears,  etc.,  etc.  Other  signs  include  the  Dove 
and  the  Rainbow  ; Bible  ; Bible  and  Crown  ; Blue 
Ball  ; Golden  Broad-Ax,  Lock  and  Key  ; Horse  and 
Cart ; The  Rose  and  Crown  ; Sign  of  the  Two  Cupids ; 
Golden  Fleece  ; Chariot  ; Unicorn  and  Mortar  ; High- 
lander ; Chair  Wheel  ; The  Admiral  Vernon  ; Chair 
Box  and  Carriage  ; Platter  ; Three  Pigeons  ; Black 
Horse  ; Quadrant  and  Surveying  Compass ; Dog’s 
Head  in  the  Porridge  Pot  ; St.  George  and  the  Drag- 
on ; Bunch  of  Grapes  ; King’s  Arms  ; Duke  of  Cum- 
berland ; Prince  of  Orange  ; etc.,  etc. 

It  was  not  alone  the  house  of  business  that  was 
known  by  its  sign.  Occasionally  we  meet  with  a 
notice  such  as  this  : “To  be  sold,  a good  brick  dwell- 
ing-house in  John  Street,  near  Alderman  Courtlandt’s 
and  known  by  the  Sign  of  the  White  Bear.” 

It  would  seem  that  flagstaffs  and  vanes  were 
rare  on  the  buildings,  or,  at  least,  that  they  were 
worthy  of  special  notice.  For  example:  “John 
Browne,  lately  married  the  Widow  Breese,  continues 
his  Leather  Dresser’s  business  in  Smith’s  Fly  near 
Beckman’s  Swamp,  or  Cripple  Bush  ; at  the  south 
end  of  the  house  a staff  is  erected,  with  a Vane  on 
the  top  of  it.” 

When  Kalrn  visited  New  York  in  1748,  he  noted 
that  there  was  no  good  water  in  the  city  ; and  he 
mentions  that  “at  a little  distance  there  is  a large 
spring  of  good  water,  which  the  inhabitants  take  for 
their  tea  and  for  the  uses  of  the  kitchen.  Those, 
however,”  he  continues,  “who  are  less  delicate  on  this 


Bedroom  in  the  Van  Cortlandt  house. 
See  page  105. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

point,  make  use  of  the  water  from  the  wells  in  town, 
though  it  be  very  bad.”  The  spring  that  he  refers  to 
became  the  Tea-Water  Pump,  situated  at  what  is  now 
Roosevelt  and  Chatham  streets.  Here  an  engine  was 
soon  erected  that  forced  the  water  up.  This  is  some- 
times referred  to  as  the  “ Fresh-Water  Engine  from 
which  the  town  is  supplied.”  This  was  the  chief 
source  of  tea-water  until  about  1800.  The  well  was 
about  twenty  feet  deep  and  was  capable  of  producing 
daily  a hundred  and  ten  hogsheads,  each  containing  a 
hundred  and  thirty  gallons.  The  water  was  carted  to 
town  in  hogsheads  and  casks.  This  spring  was  also  a 
favourite  resort  and  near  it  an  ornamental  garden  had 
been  laid  out  and  called  the  “Tea-Water  Pump 
Garden.” 

Among  the  wells  in  the  city,  the  most  frequented 
was  that  near  the  pond  known  as  the  Collect  and 
the  one  in  Greenwich  between  Thames  and  Cedar 
Streets  near  Comfort’s  Dock.  Every  morning  and 
evening  the  slaves  came  in  great  numbers  to  fill  their 
kegs  with  “ Comfort’s  Tea-Water.” 

The  pleasure  that  the  inhabitants  of  New  York 
took  in  gardens  is  constantly  in  evidence.  As  the 
town  grew,  it  was  natural  that  real  estate  in  the  busi- 
ness centre  should  become  more  valuable,  and  conse- 
quently that  the  gardens  should  be  sacrificed  and 
cut  up  into  town  lots.  We  sometimes  meet  with 
announcements  like  the  following  (1734):  “To  be 
Sold.  The  house,  Store  house  and  garden  of  Benja- 
min D’harriet,  situate  in  Wall  St.  and  several  lots  of 
ground  in  John  St.  on  the  West  Corner  of  Gold  St., 
formerly  the  garden  of  Mr.  John  Outman.” 

24 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 


The  gardens  were  laid  out  according  to  the 
national  or  individual  tastes  of  the  owners.  In  the 
early  years  of  the  century,  the  formal  Dutch  garden 
predominated,  but  as  the  English,  French,  Italian  or 
Chinese  garden  came  into  vogue  abroad,  people  of 
wealth  and  fashion  here  eagerly  adopted  the  new 
styles.  Advertisements  of  able  gardeners  in  want  of 
situations  are  plentiful,  and  so  are  offers  of  all  sorts  of 
flower-seeds,  fruit-trees,  and  other  necessaries  for  a 
well-appointed  garden.  In  1771,  there  is  a notice  of  a 
man  being  killed  by  a summer-house,  that  he  was  mov- 
ing, falling  upon  him.  This  was  in  the  garden  of  a Mr. 
Faulkner,  near  Cowfoot  Hill.  The  famous  grottos  of 
Twickenham  and  other  English  estates  were  imitated 
here.  I11  1765,  Henry  Smith,  Church  Street,  wants  to 
sell  a fine  collection  of  curious  shells  for  grotto-work. 
In  1751,  the  following  announcement  appears  : 

“ Any  gentlemen  or  others  desirous  of  adorning  their  gar- 
dens, Tops  of  their  Houses  or  doors,  etc.  with  Flower  Pots,  In- 
cence  Pots,  Urns,  Vases,  or  any  other  Ornament  capable  of 
being  made  with  clay,  may  be  supplied  by  Edward  Annerly 
near  the  Fly  Market,  he  having  Set  up  the  Potter’s  Business  by 
Means  of  a Family  of  Germans  he  bought,  supposed  by  their 
work  to  be  the  most  ingenious  in  that  Trade  that  ever  arrived 
in  America,  at  his  Estate  at  Whitestone,  where  he  has  clay 
capable  of  making  eight  different  sorts  of  Earthenware,  a large 
quantity  of  various  kinds  being  already  made  fitting  to  be 
baked,  which  will  be  soon.” 

The  varieties  of  architecture,  landscape-gardening, 
etc.,  most  in  favour  in  the  middle  of  the  century  are 
shown  in  the  following  advertisement  : 

“ Theophilus  Hardenbrook,  surveyor,  designs  all  sorts  of 
buildings  well  suited  to  both  town  and  country,  Pavillions, 

25 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Summer  Rooms,  Seats  for  Gardens,  all  sorts  of  Rooms  after 
the  taste  of  the  Arabian,  Chinese,  Persian,  Gothic,  Muscovite, 
Paladian,  Roman,  Vitruvian  and  Egyptian;  also  Water  houses 
for  Parks,  Keepers’  Lodges,  burying  Places,  Niches,  Eye  Traps 
to  represent  a Building  terminating  a Walk,  or  to  hide  some 
disagreeable  object,  Rotundas,  Colonades,  Arcades,  Studies  in 
Parks  or  Gardens,  Green  Houses  for  the  Preservation  of  Herbs, 
with  winding  Funnels  through  the  Wall  so  as  to  keep  them 
warm,  Farm  Houses,  Town  Houses,  Market  Houses,  Churches, 
Altar  Pieces:  He  also  connects  all  sorts  of  Truss-Roofs  and 
prevents  their  separating  by  a new  Method,  and  also  all  sorts 
of  Domes,  Spires,  Cupolos,  both  pile  and  Flanging  Bridges. 
Note:  He  designs  and  executes  beautiful  chimney-pieces  as 
any  here  yet  executed.  Said  Hardenbrook  has  now  opened 
school  near  the  New  English  Church,  where  he  teaches  Archi- 
tecture from  six  o’clock  in  the  Evening  till  Eight.”  (1757  ) 


26 


Ill 


HOUSE-BUILDING,  FIRES,  RENTS  AND  MAILS 

The  citizen  was  ever  in  dread  of  fire.  Houses 
built  in  the  Eighteenth  Century  were  principally  of 
wood.  The  introduction  of  fire-engines  in  1731  was 
due  to  Stephen  de  Lancey  and  his  partner,  John 
Moore.  They  sent  to  London  in  May  of  that  year 
for  two  engines  “ with  suction  and  materials  thereto,” 
and  upon  their  arrival  a room  in  the  City  Hall  was 
arranged  for  their  accommodation.  They  were  used 
for  the  first  time  on  Dec.  6th,  1732,  when  a fire  broke 
out  at  midnight  in  a joiner’s  house.  The  report  says  : 
“ it  began  in  the  garret  where  the  people  were  all 
asleep,  and  burnt  violently  ; but  by  the  help  of  the 
two  fire-engines  which  came  from  London  in  the  ship 
Beavej',  the  fire  was  extinguished,  after  having  burnt 
down  that  house  and  damaged  the  next.” 

Within  a very  few  years,  engines  were  being  man- 
ufactured here.  In  1739,  “ A Lire  Engine  that  will 
deliver  2 Hogsheads  of  Water  in  a minute,  in  a con- 
tinued Stream  is  to  be  Sold  by  Wm.  Lindsay  the 
Maker  thereof.” 

In  1731,  a law  for  the  better  preventing  of  fire 
required  two  viewers  of  chimneys  and  hearths  to  see 
that  the  latter  were  kept  clean.  It  also  ordered  every 
owner  of  a house  that  had  three  fire-places  to  keep 
two  leather  buckets  on  hand  ; and  one  bucket,  if  less 

27 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

than  three  fire-places.  The  buckets  had  to  be  allowed 
out  of  the  rent  by  the  landlord,  whose  initials  they 
had  to  bear.  Every  brewer  had  to  keep  six  buckets, 
and  every  baker  three.  One  of  the  frequent  fatal 
fires  was  reported  as  follows  : 

“ Mr.  Thos.  Duncan’s  house  burnt  with  wife  and  4 children, 
eldest  daughter  (18)  saved  by  jumping  out  of  a window  three 
stories  high  into  the  arms  of  a gentleman  who  had  encouraged 
her  to  this  dangerous  tho’  only  expedient.  . . . The  house  with 
many  valuable  effects  were  entirely  destroyed;  but  by  the  in- 
dustry of  the  inhabitants,  who  are  deservedly  celebrated  for 
their  zeal  and  dexterity  in  extinguishing  fires,  assisted  by  the 
gentlemen  of  the  army  and  the  soldiers  now  quartered  here,  it 
was  prevented  from  extending  farther.  One  Mr.  Flanagan, 
for  being  too  industrious  at  the  above  fire,  was  committed  to 
gaol.” 

The  almanac  of  1776  informs  us  that  the  city 
“ Fire  Engines  are  kipt  at  the  Fort,  four  at  the  City 
Hall,  one  at  Hanover  Square,  one  near  the  Chapel, 
one  Maiden  Lane,  and  one  at  the  Alms  House.  To 
manage  which  are  one  engineer,  two  assistants  ; and 
from  each  of  the  six  wards  twelve  Firemen.” 

In  September,  1749,  there  was  a long  article  in 
the  Post-Boy  from  a contributor  who  wished  to  help 
his  fellow  citizens  to  provide  against  the  dangers  of 
fire.  His  arguments  give  us  considerable  knowledge 
of  the  condition  of  the  houses  of  the  period.  The 
majority  of  the  roofs  being  shingle,  the  great  danger 
of  conflagration  arose  from  Hying  embers  from  other 
fires.  H e says  : 

“ The  danger  is  greatly  increased  for  want  of  a conveniency 
readily  to  come  at  every  part  of  the  roof,  most  houses  having 
only  a way  to  come  at  the  chimney,  and  some  even  not  that. 

28 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

The  method  usually  taken  is  to  knock  a hole  through  the  roof 
as  near  the  place  afire  as  they  can  ; and  if  they  have  the  good 
luck  to  put  the  fire  out,  yet  is  the  house  greatly  damaged.  In 
order  to  prevent  this  good  servant  (fire)  from  becoming  a bad 
master,  I would  advise  every  man  to  erect  a balcony  over  the 
ridge  of  the  roof  of  his  house. 

“ In  extreme  dry  times  such  a place  would  be  convenient 
for  tubs  and  pails  of  water, — for  the  springs  then  being  low 
and  most  part  of  the  wells  in  the  city  exhausted  and  dry,  yield- 
ing very  little  water  at  a time,  a considerable  stock  may  be 
got  and  kept  ready  there  against  a time  of  need.  This  balcony 
may  be  useful  in  many  ways.  All  gentlemen  of  fortune  and 
substance  might  keep  up  there,  a small  garden  or  fire  engine, 
which  costs  from  ^15  to  £20.  This  will  enable  them  to  keep 
their  own  roofs  wet  and  play  upon  any  contiguous  burning 
house. 

“They  may  sometimes  from  the  tops  of  their  houses  for 
their  own  diversion,  water  the  gardens  with  the  water  already 
there  which  by  long  standing  in  the  sun  would  be  rendered 
more  fit  for  that  purpose  than  cold  water  from  the  well.  They 
may  wash  the  dust  from  their  roofs,  and  thereby  render  the 
water  they  receive  into  their  cisterns  more  clean  and  pure. 
When  they  intend  their  servants  should  sweep  their  streets, 
they  may  from  thence  sprinkle  and  allay  the  dust.  Thus  by 
frequent  use,  themselves  and  others  may  become  expert  in 
working  of  the  engines,  which  will  also  thereby  be  kept  in  good 
order.  . . . There  are  above  500  persons  in  this  city  able  to 
provide  a small  engine  without  prejudice  to  their  estate.  . . . 
Further,  such  a balcony  would  afford  a commodious  place  for 
the  observations  of  those  versed  in  astronomy;  having  a clear 
and  uninterrupted  prospect,  freed  from  intervening  objects. 
These  observations  generally  being  made  at  night,  the  curious 
thus  employed  would  be  as  so  many  sentinels  to  discover  the 
first  breaking  out  of  any  fires  in  the  neighbourhood,  which 
would  produce  a satisfaction  in  any  man’s  breast  to  find  him- 
self thus  eminently  serviceable  to  the  public.  Here  a man  may 
sometimes  repair  and  with  pleasure  behold  the  beauties  of  a 
rising  or  setting  sun  ; and  by  it  correct  his  watch  or  clock,  and 

29 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

have  the  prospect  of  the  neighbouring  gardens,  objects  on 
the  river,  etc.,  which  to  some  men  would  be  no  disagreeable 
amusement,  and  all  without  going  from  home.” 

This  public-spirited  citizen  next  has  a few  words 
to  say  about  methods  of  building.  We  gather  that 
the  upper  part  of  the  roof  had  a considerable  space 
on  which  a man  with  care  could  walk  from  end  to 
end  and  side  to  side,  but  this  left  much  to  be  desired 
in  comfort  and  safety,  for  these  roofs  not  being  en- 
closed with  rails,  and  having  a considerable  slope  or 
descent,  a man  could  walk  well  enough  in  the  day 
and  in  dry  weather,  but  when  rendered  slippery  in 
wet  or  frosty  weather,  those  who  ventured  there  risked 
their  lives,  especially  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  of 
fire.  The  writer  therefore  recommended  his  fellow 
citizens  to  heed  God’s  ordinance  in  Deuteronomy 
xxii,  8.  “ When  thou  buildest  a new  house,  then  thou 
shalt  make  a battlement  for  thy  roof,  that  thou  bring 
not  blood  upon  thy  house  if  any  man  fall  from  thence.” 
He  continues  : 

“ How  would  it  cut  a man  to  the  heart  to  see  his  friend  lie 
bleeding  in  the  street  when  he  might  by  a small  charge  and 
reasonable  care  have  prevented  it!  If  a man  is  not  utterly 
void  of  compassion  and  gratitude  to  his  benefactor,  or  sym- 
pathy for  his  friend,  he  must  needs  feel  a sting  in  his  breast 
upon  and  after  such  an  unhappy  accident ; — besides  the  great 
discouragement  it  gives  others  to  be  active  on  the  like  occasion. 
To  the  honour  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  be  it  spoken,  that 
their  dexterity  and  readiness  in  extinguishing  of  fires  is  singu- 
larly remarkable,  and  generally  attended  with  great  success, 
even  beyond  what  might  be  hoped  for. 

“ Upon  the  first  touch  of  the  fire  bell,  how  soon  do  our 
streets  swarm  with  men  from  all  parts  ! and  their  willingness 
and  expeditious  behaviour  has  even  surprised  the  strangers 

30 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

amongst  us  who  have  seen  it.”  [The  writer  then  proceeds  to 
cite  many  instances  of  threatening  fires  that  were  put  out  with 
remarkable  skill  and  bravery,  and  pays  a handsome  compliment 
to  the  firemen  and  authorities.  He  then  passes  on  to  show  how 
a man’s  house  may  be  made  reasonably  safe.  He  invokes  the 
Legislature,  first,  to  offer  a premium  to  him  who  shall  make 
by  a limited  date  one  thousand  of  the  best  tiles;]  “ also  a bounty 
to  any  merchant  importing  any  quantity  in  proportion  to  what 
parcel  he  imports.  As  there  is  plenty  of  clay  in  this  province  . . . 
in  the  space  of  six  years,  a sufficient  quantity  of  tile  might,  by 
the  like  encouragement  be  procured  ; especially  since  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  war  affords  us  a number  of  idle  hands.  Let  me 
add  here  for  information  of  some  that  know  it  not  that  several 
houses  in  this  town  have  been  tiled  with  very  good  pantiles 
made  at  Albany,  as  cheap  as  they  could  be  had  from  Holland. 
Witness  Mr.  Bayard’s  Sugar  House.” 

He  next  proposes  a tax  on  all  houses  roofed  with 
shingles,  and  a bounty  on  so  much  a foot  for  every 
house  covered  with  tiles  : “ Roofs  I say,  because  the 
gable  ends  of  some  houses  are  decked  with  shingles 
against  N.  E.  storms  and  rains  where  tiles  cannot  be 
used.  ...  But  the  flat  sort  of  tile,  such  as  is  generally 
used  in  the  City  of  London  is  preferred  before  the 
hollow  sort  as  being  easiest  made  and  therefore  cheap- 
est.” The  writer  goes  on  to  draw  unfavourable  com- 
parisons between  the  houses  of  his  day  and  those  for- 
merly built  here  : 

“ The  last  fire  in  Duke  Street  could  not  have  been  so  soon 
mastered  had  it  not  been  for  the  tiled  houses  on  each  side,  and 
a large  high  roof  likewise  tiled  a little  to  leeward  of  the  fire  was 
looked  on  as  a check.  That  very  house  would  have  stood  but 
an  ordinary  chance  to  have  escaped  had  it  been  shingled.  Here 
observe  the  care  and  circumspection  of  our  forefathers  in  cov- 
ering their  houses  in  such  a manner  as  affords  daily  proofs  of 
their  prudence  when  we  their  sons  are  indolent  and  degenerate  ; 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

we  must  praise  their  prudence,  but  our  children  will  blame  our 
folly.”  [Our  reformer  next  suggests  that  if  there  are  any  ob- 
jections against  pantiles  or  flat  tiles,  such  as  the  expense,  or 
lack  of  time  to  procure  them,  even  then  Nature  has  sufficiently 
furnished  us  with  means  of  security  by  giving  us  plenty  of  very 
good  slate,  since  there  are  several  places  on  the  North  River 
where  there  is  as  much  slate  to  be  had  as  would  load  a thou- 
sand ships.] 

It  may  be  that  the  solicitude  shown  by  this 
writer  for  the  improvement  of  roofing  in  New  York 
is  not  entirely  disinterested,  for  having  reached  this 
point  of  employing  slate,  he  interpolates:  “Any 
mason  or  others  who  desire  to  know  the  method  of 
cutting  and  laying  on  of  slate,  may  he  informed  by 
signifying  his  desire  in  this  paper.” 

Next  comes  the  question  as  to  the  means  of  rais- 
ing the  premiums  to  be  paid  for  the  manufacture  of 
tiles.  Five  hundred  pounds  would  probably  suffice 
and  this  might  be  easily  raised  by  taxing  shingled 
houses.  Besides  this,  there  might  be  “a  tax  on 
coaches  and  chaises  kept  for  pleasure  generally  by 
able  men  ; a tax  on  luxury  and  extravagances  ; a duty 
on  shingles,  and  other  things  that  might  easily  bear 
it  ; as  an  extravagance  in  dress  in  particular.” 

In  1761,  it  was  enacted  that  houses  erected  in  the 
city  after  Jan.  1st,  1766  should  be  made  of  stone  or 
brick,  and  roofed  with  tile  or  slate,  under  a penalty 
of  ^50.  The  reason  given  for  this  law  was  “ the  fre- 
quent instances  of  the  extensive  destruction  made  by 
fire  in  many  populous  cities.  . . . And  there  being 
reason  to  apprehend  that  great  part  of  this  city,  from 
the  number  of  the  houses  in  the  same  being  roofed 
with  shingles  is  peculiarly  exposed  to  the  rage  of 

32 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

that  dreadful  element.”  The  enforcement  of  this  law 
was,  however,  deferred  till  Jan.  ist,  1774.  The  reason 
given  in  1765  was  that  “a  sufficient  quantity  of  slate 
or  tile  cannot  at  present,  be  had,  or  procured,  to  cover, 
or  roof  the  houses  and  buildings  that  are  yearly  erected 
within  this  city.” 

It  appears  that  the  legislature  adopted  some  of 
the  suggestions  of  the  above  writer,  for  in  March, 
1774,  it  was  announced  that  “the  money  arising  from 
the  Act  laying  a tax  on  dogs  and  cats  in  this  city  and 
county,  passed  last  session,  is  to  be  given  as  a bounty 
for  the  making  of  tile  for  covering  houses  in  this 
place.”  An  Act  was  also  passed  regulating  the  size 
of  bricks.  The  consequence  was  that  in  April,  1774, 
the  papers  stated  that  the  hard  sort  of  bricks  had 
risen  from  twenty-eight  to  forty  shillings  per  thou- 
sand, and  the  soft  sort  from  sixteen  to  thirty  shillings. 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  early  New  York  archi- 
tecture, both  without  and  within  the  houses,  was  the 
use  of  tiles.  This  especially  struck  Madam  Knight 
when  she  visited  the  city  in  1707.  She  noticed  that 
the  bricks  in  the  houses  were  of  various  colours  and 
arranged  in  patterns,  and  she  remarked  upon  the  tiled 
hearths  and  mantel-trees  and  noticed  that  the  stair- 
cases were  even  laid  with  white  tile.  This,  of  course, 
was  Dutch  in  origin,  and  the  use  of  this  form  of  deco- 
ration continued  in  many  of  the  houses.  Although 
we  have  seen  the  complaints  that  were  made  against 
the  extensive  use  of  shingles,  it  is  manifest  that  some 
of  the  houses  were  constructed  with  the  more  solid 
materials.  Tiles,  both  for  roofing  and  for  ornament- 
ing the  chimney,  are  frequently  advertised. 

4 33 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

In  1749,  “Scripture  tiles  with  the  chapter  and 
some  plain  white  ones”  are  for  sale.  In  1766,  John 
Franklin  offers  “ a quantity  of  yellow  brick  and  best 
blue  glazed  Holland  roof  tiles.”  Another  advertise- 
ment of  the  day  reads : 

“ Plain  tyles  to  cover  Buildings,  made  by  Daniel  Hendrick- 
son, at  Middletown  Point,  the  same  sort  as  are  made  use  of  in 
and  are  the  Soundest  and  most  lasting  covering  made  use  of 
(except  the  best  light  sort  of  Slate)  and  are  generally  preferable 
to  the  Boston  Slate,  being  lighter  and  cheaper.  No  weather  can 
penetrate  if  properly  laid,  and  are  the  safest  of  any  covering 
against  Fire  being  not  subject  to  fly  by  any  heat.  To  be  sold 
by  J.  Edward  Prayor  near  Commissary  Lakes,  at  the  North 
River,  New  York,  or  by  the  above  maker,  where  also  may  be 
had  in  the  Spring,  choice  rubbing  Bricks  for  uniting  arches,  or 
any  Mouldings  for  Cornices;  will  also  stand  Fire  for  Ovens  or 
Furnaces.” 

It  has  often  been  remarked  how  strangely  old 
customs  survive.  The  change  of  residence  on  the 
First  of  May  was  as  usual  in  the  Eighteenth  as  in 
the  Twentieth  Century.  A surprising  instance  of 
this  occurs  in  1734,  when  the  “printer  apologizes, 
for  the  shortness  of  the  Weekly  Journal,  he  being 
obliged  to  follow  the  custom  of  the  town  at  May 
Day,  and  change  his  habitation.” 

Occasionally  we  get  a glimpse  of  the  rent  re- 
quired for  certain  houses.  Thus  in  1754,  there  is  to 
be  let  “ A very  large  house  in  King  Street,  next  door 
to  the  Hon.  Daniel  Horsmanden  Esq.;  as  it  stood 
empty  last  year,  if  any  good  family  wants  it  for  the 
present  year,  they  may  have  it  for  £ 20 , paying  the 
tax  and  keeping  it  in  repair.  It  used  to  be  let  for 
^48  a year.” 


34 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 


Another  new  brick  house  in  King  Street  was  to 
be  sold  about  the  same  date.  It  rented  for  ^50  per 
annum.  In  February,  1764,  the  editor  of  the  Gazette 
noted  that  he  had  heard  there  were  more  houses  to 
be  let  in  the  City  than  there  had  been  at  any  time 
for  seven  years  past.  It  would  appear  that  the  rent 
question  occasionally  caused  friction  in  the  commu- 
nity. In  1749,  we  find  an  interesting  address  to  a 
Hebrew  who  had  moved  into  a new  neighbourhood 
and  found  himself  an  unwelcome  guest  because  he 
had  made  good  use  of  his  talents  for  business.  An 
interesting  side  light  is  thrown  on  local  customs  in 
this  document  : 

“To  the  Israelite  of  the  Tribe  of  Judah,  lately  removed 
near  Fudge’s  Corner. 

Sir, 

As  it  has  been  a custom  for  many  years  past  to  address 
new  neighbours,  we  do  out  of  mere  form  congratulate  you  into 
this  our  neighbourhood,  but  wish  you  may  not  answer  the 
character  given  you  by  some  people.  We  are  informed  you 
have  made  it  a practice  of  late  years  to  overbid  many  persons  in 
their  rents,  whereby  they  have  been  put  to  great  trouble  and  ex- 
pense   we  are  assuredly  informed  that  you  was  the  first 

person  discovered  to  be  guilty  of  that  most  scandalous  practice. 

Alas!  J e,  from  the  gay  appearance  and  haughty 

spirit  of  your  consort,  we  imagine  your  purse  will  soon  be 
exhausted,  we  would  therefore  advise  you  to  use  proper  means 
to  prevent  it  before  it  is  too  late.  We  blame  you  much  for 
hiring  your  now  dwelling-house  at  so  great  a rent  and  for  a 
term  of  years,  when  it  is  probable  rents  will  fall  at  least  one- 
half,  we  advise  you  therefore  to  pay  your  rent  as  it  becomes 
due,  otherwise  the  consequences  may  prove  abortive. 

It  is  become  a custom  with  us  to  invite  our  new  neighbours 
members  of  our  club,  but  as  we  are  informed  you  are  a com- 
mon disturber,  we  decline  paying  you  that  compliment.” 

35 


See  page  143. 


Silver  tea-kettle  and  stand  (1762— ’63)  owned  by  the  Ver  Planck  family, 
now  by  Mrs.  Louis  Fitzgerald. 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

Iii  the  same  year,  it  is  announced  that  a number  of 
tenants  propose  to  form  a small  club  contributing  6d. 
a piece  for  a ducking-stool  for  any  one  who  agrees  to 
give  a higher  rent  than  the  present  tenant,  in  view  of 
the  base  prevalent  practice  of  raising  house-rents  by 
means  either  of  a tenant  taking  a house  over  another’s 
head  by  offering  a higher  rent,  or  else  the  landlord’s 
baser  practice  of  saying  so,  in  order  to  raise  it. 

Before  closing  this  chapter,  it  may  be  well  to 
enumerate  the  buildings  that  existed  in  the  city  to- 
wards the  end  of  the  period  under  review.  In  1766, 
as  has  already  been  stated,  New  York  contained  3223 
houses.  The  churches  included  Trinity  Church,  St. 
Paul’s  Church  (which  was  not  yet  completed),  St. 
George’s  Chapel,  the  Old  and  the  New  Dutch 
Churches,  a synagogue,  and  churches  or  meeting- 
houses of  the  French,  Presbyterians,  German  Calvin- 
ists, Seceders,  or  Scotch  Presbyterians,  Anabaptists, 
Moravians,  and  Quakers.  The  Lutherans  also  had 
two  places  of  worship.  Then  there  was  the  “ Gov- 
ernor’s Palace  ” at  Fort  George,  King’s  College,  the 
Alms  House,  Exchange,  New  Gaol,  Hospital  at  the 
Battery  and  the  Barracks. 

There  were  five  markets,  known  as  Coenties,  Old 
Slip,  Fly,  Oswego  and  New.  Lastly,  there  was  the 
City  Hall.  Here  the  General  Assembly  and  the 
Council  met,  the  Supreme  Court  and  the  Mayor’s 
Court  were  held,  and  a public  library  was  kept. 
The  domestic  mail  service  was  good.  The  post- 
master of  New  York  had  a good  deal  of  business  to 
attend  to.  He  frequently  advertises  the  names  of 
many  (sometimes  hundreds)  of  people  for  whom 

37 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

letters  are  lying  in  his  office.  It  seems  to  have  been 
a custom  for  him  to  extend  credit  for  the  delivery  of 
these  in  many  cases,  since  he  sometimes  announces 
he  can  give  no  more.  The  following  announcement 
supplies  us  with  the  particulars  for  the  year  1753  : 

“ The  Post  Office  will  be  removed  on  Thursday  next  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Alexander  Colden,  opposite  to  the  Bowling  Green 
in  the  Broad-Way,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pemberton  lately  lived  ; 
where  letters  will  be  received  and  delivered  out  every  day 
(Saturday  afternoon  till  the  arrival  of  the  posts  and  Sundays 
excepted)  from  8 to  12  a.  m.  and  from  2 to  4 p.  m.  except  on 
post  nights  when  attendance  will  be  given  till  10  p.  m.  And 
all  letters  for  persons  living  in  town  that  remain  uncalled  for 
on  post  nights,  will,  on  Monday  morning  be  sent  out  by  a 
penny  post  provided  for  that  purpose. 

N.  B.  No  credit  in  future  will  be  given  for  postage  of 
letters.” 

Regular  communication  was  kept  up  with  Eng- 
land by  packet-boats  that  plied  between  New  York 
and  Falmouth.  The  mails  carried  by  these  were 
made  up  both  in  London  and  New  York  on  the 
second  Saturday  in  every  month.  New  York  des- 
patched mails  to  Boston  every  Monday  and  Thurs- 
day ; to  Albany,  on  Monday  ; and  to  Philadelphia,  on 
Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday.  The  names  of  the 
Falmouth  packets  at  that  date  were  : The  Lord  Hyde 
(Capt.  Goddard)  ; The  Harriott  (Capt.  Robinson)  ; 
The  Duke  of  Cumberland  (Capt.  Goodridge)  ; and 
The  Earl  of  Halifax  (Capt.  Bolderson). 

There  was  a great  deal  of  coming  and  going 
between  New  York  and  ports  in  Great  Britain.  Dis- 
tinguished officials  and  members  of  the  English 
nobility  were  frequent  visitors.  We  often  find  notices 

38 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 


of  titled  Britishers  who  are  touring  in  the  Colonies. 
A distinguished  passenger  list  in  i 769  included  : the 
Duchess  of  Gordon,  who  had  become  the  wife  of 
Staats  Long  Morris,  of  the  Morrisania  family  and 
had  made  a trip  on  horseback  with  him  to  the  head- 
waters of  the  Susquehanna ; Lady  Moore ; Miss 
Franks,  Miss  Burges,  Miss  Connor,  Capt.  Davis, 
Capt.  Stanton,  and  about  twenty  others. 


39 


IV 

COUNTRY-SEATS  AND  FARMS 

Attractive  and  delightful  as  the  city  itself  un- 
doubtedly was,  the  country  beyond  must  have  been 
still  more  charming.  Manhattan  Island  as  well  as 
Staten  Island,  the  Jersey  shore  and  Long  Island  were 
dotted  with  country-seats,  mansions  and  farm-houses, 
pleasantly  situated  in  fine  grounds.  In  many  cases 
these  estates  were  comparatively  small  in  area,  as 
their  owners  did  not  depend  on  farming  for  a living, 
but  had  offices,  shops  or  counting-houses  in  New 
York.  They  could  come  to  town  by  boat,  or  drive, 
reaching  their  places  of  official  or  commercial  busi- 
ness from  io  to  ii  a.  m.  and  leaving  in  time  to  dine 
from  2 to  3 p.  m. 

The  great  majority  of  the  wealthy  citizens  were 
interested  in  the  shipping  business  directly  or  indi- 
rectly. Even  if  they  did  not  build  or  own  trading 
ships,  or  privateers,  they  were  generally  direct  im- 
porters. Everybody  tried  to  make  money,  and  ladies 
of  the  best  families  had  shops  of  their  own.  Ease 
and  luxury  at  home  were  cultivated,  and  in  most 
cases  the  mansions  were  situated  within  reach  of  all 
that  earth,  forest  and  sea  could  yield.  This  will  be 
made  plain  by  a few  descriptions  of  this  class  of  real 
estate  : 


40 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

“A  Large  Brick  House  well  furnished  (where  Mr.  James 
Harding  lately  lived)  near  New  York  Ferry,  on  Long  Island, 
with  a large  Barn  well  covered  with  Cedar,  a large  Hand- 
some Garden,  and  about  Ten  Acres  of  Land  in  a fine  young  Or- 
chard, finely  situated  either  for  a gentleman’s  country-seat  or  a 
Publick  House,  is  to  be  sold  at  a Reasonable  Rate  by  Edward 
Willet,  the  owner  thereof.”  (1732.) 

“ The  plantation  of  the  late  Captain  Thomas  Coddrington, 
of  30  acres  of  land  and  two  out  lots  of  8 acres  each,  orchard, 
dwelling-house,  etc.  in  the  bounds  of  Harlem,  5 miles  from 
the  town,  S.  E.  side  of  the  island.  Plenty  of  lobsters  and  fish 
near  the  house.”  (1738.) 

“An  estate  at  Whitestone,  near  Flushing,  very  pleasantly 
situated  on  the  Sound,  consisting  of  a good  dwelling-house, 
stable,  chair-house,  &c.  with  or  without  a large  storehouse, 
wharf,  etc.,  a garden  of  two  acres  walled  in  and  well  laid  out 
with  the  best  of  fruit  trees,  gravel  and  grass  walks,  asparagus 
beds,  flowering  shrubs,  flowers,  etc.,  a large  orchard,  with  mow- 
ing and  pasture  land.”  (1753.) 

“A  farm  for  sale,  a quarter  of  a mile  beyond  Flushing  on 
the  road  to  Whitestone  Ferry,  containing  no  acres  whereof  20 
acres  are  in  wood,  and  a growing  swamp,  lying  little  better 
than  a mile  from  the  house,  7 acres  of  salt  meadow  close  by 
and  the  rest  all  in  one  body  within  a good  stone  ditch  ....  with 
a good  and  convenient  dwelling-house,  barn,  milch,  hen  and 
pidgeon  house  well  stocked  with  pidgeons ; a curious  flower 
and  kitchen  garden,  orchard  and  mowing  ground  before  the 
door  ; a well  with  a pump  in  the  yard  and  a living  spring  a 
stone  throw  from  the  door  and  many  other  conveniences  fit  for 
any  gentleman.”  (1754.) 

“ To  be  let  May  next : The  farm  or  Plantation  belonging 
to  the  Estate  of  Joseph  Bowne,  late  of  Flushing,  deceased,  con- 
taining 40  acres  of  choice  Upland  and  Meadow,  all  in  good 
Fence:  There  is  on  it  a commodious,  large  Dwelling-house, 
furnished  with  nine  Rooms,  five  of  which  have  Fireplaces  with 
a large  Kitchen  adjoining  to  the  same ; likewise,  a good  bearing 
Orchard,  with  a variety  of  Fruit  trees  also  a good  Barn,  Store- 
house, and  other  Out-Houses.”  (1760.) 

41 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Mr.  Bayard’s,  described  below,  was  a good  ex- 
ample of  an  ordinary  country-seat  near  New  York 
in  the  middle  of  the  century  (1760)  : 

“To  be  let:  The  island  called  Hoobock  in  New  Jersey,  di- 
rectly opposite  the  City  of  New  York,  lying  on  Hudson’s  River, 
containing  between  700  and  800  acres,  two-thirds  of  which  is 
upland  and  one-third  salt  meadow.  It  is  in  the  best  order, 
has  on  it  a garden  of  about  five  acres  filled  with  a choice  col- 
lection of  English  fruit,  such  as  peaches,  pears,  plums,  cherries, 
necterns  and  apricots.  There  is  on  it  a very  large  dwelling- 
house,  which  the  landlord  keeps  himself ; and  another  very 
good  one  adjoining,  both  under  one  roof,  which  latter  hires 
with  the  island;  and  under  the  whole  are  very  large  convenient 
cellars,  together  with  an  extraordinary  kitchen.  A few  feet  dis- 
tance from  the  dwelling  is  a large  new  kitchen  which  has  three 
rooms  on  each  side,  therefore  more  fitting  for  a family,  having 
also  the  same  conveniences  as  above  mentioned  ; likewise  the 
most  commodious  dairy  for  at  least  30  cows. 

“ There  are  also  other  out-houses,  as  a new  smoke  house, 
fowl  house,  a large  stable  with  stalls  for  ten  horses  on  one 
side,  and  a fine  roomly  place  on  the  other  to  work  in  when  dirty 
weather,  over  which  is  a granary  with  apartments  for  all  kinds 
of  grain,  and  at  the  contrary  end  a hay-loft  which  will  contain 
a great  quantity  of  hay,  besides  all  which  there  is  a very  large 
roomly  barn  for  cows  on  the  one  side,  and  another  for  horses  on 
the  other.  There  are  likewise  on  the  farm  a good  cider  mill  and 
house  over  it,  the  loft  of  which  will  hold  about  20  load  of  hay. 

“There  will  be  let  with  the  premises  a good  wagon,  cart, 
ploughs,  harrows  and  farm  utensils  of  every  sort;  as  also  100 
good  sheep,  among  which  are  English  rams ; also  30  good 
milch  cows  and  30  head  of  cattle  from  one  to  four  years  old. 

“ Besides  an  old  orchard,  which  in  good  years  will  produce 
70  or  80  barrels  of  cider,  there  are  also  set  out  near  1,000  apple 
trees,  all  grafted  with  the  best  of  fruits,  some  of  which  bore 
last  year. 

“This  farm  has  a right  in  Bergen  Commons,  to  turn  out 
what  cattle  you  please,  and  be  supplied  with  timber  for  fencing 

42 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

and  firing;  is  finely  supplied  with  fish  and  oysters  in  the  great- 
est abundance  all  around  it,  and  scarce  anything  in  America 
can  equal  its  convenience  for  marketing,  as  in  good  weather 
you  may  cross,  take  one  time  with  another,  in  half  an  hour; 
and  in  the  different  seasons  of  the  year  abound  with  plenty  of 
wild  fowl;  and  the  farm  itself  all  in  good  clover.  Of  the  salt 
hay  may  be  mowed  at  least  500  loads  per  year,  and  of  fresh  at 
present  60,  but  more  may  be  brought.  (Apply  to  William 
Bayard,  living  in  New  York).  There  will  also  be  let  a good 
pettiauger  and  canoe. 

“ The  said  Bayard  has  also  on  it  20  fat  hogs,  6 head  of  fat 
cattle  and  a pair  of  fine  oxen,  besides  some  hundred  bushels  of 
corn,  buckwheat,  turnips  and  fresh  and  salt  hay.” 

Another  advertisement  is  of  a 

“Farm  on  Staten  Island,  160  acres,  house  45X37;  in  the 
Front  a Dining-Room  and  Parlour,  and  in  the  rear,  three  Bed- 
rooms, two  of  which  have  Fireplaces.  The  Dining-Room  is 
14X19,  hung  with  genteel  Paper;  the  Entry  or  Passage  from 
the  Door,  is  hung  with  the  same;  the  Parlour  is  19X26,  hung 
with  Landskip  Paper  framed  with  Papier  Machee.  Above 
Stairs  are  two  good  Bedrooms,  half  Story  over  the  Front  part 
of  the  house;  over  the  back  part  is  a large  Granary  divided 
into  two  Rooms.  To  the  House  is  joined  by  a Portal  or 
Piazza,  of  ten  feet,  a new  Stone  Building,  thirty  Feet  by  Eight- 
een. The  Part  next  the  House  is  finished  for  a kitchen.  The 
extreme  End,  fronting  the  South,  is  designed  for  a Conserva- 
tory or  Greenhouse  having  three  Frames  of  Lights  in  the 
Front,  containing  sixty-six  Panes  of  Glass,  9X  n.  Within  one 
Inclosure  next  adjoining  the  House,  is  a small  Orchard  and 
Garden  of  about  four  Acres.”  This  house  was  situated  about 
a mile  and  a half  from  Johnson’s  Ferry  upon  a “ Point  pro- 
jecting into  the  River,  which  opens  a most  agreeable  and  ex- 
tensive Prospect.”  (1764.) 

“ In  the  Out-Ward  of  the  City  of  New  York,  near  the  seat 
of  Mr.  De  Lancey,  called  Bloomendal,  there  is  to  be  Sold  a 
Plantation  with  a very  good  Stone  House,  Barn,  and  Orchard, 
containing  about  four  or  five  Hundred  Apple-trees  and  a Pair 

43 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Orchard,  with  a great  many  fine  grafted  Pairs.  The  Land  is 
very  well  Timbered  and  Watered;  it  has  a very  fine  Brook  very 
convenient  for  a Fish  Pond,  containing  about  Two  Hundred 
and  Sixty  Acres  of  Land  and  six  Acres  of  Meadow,  situate, 
lying  and  being  near  Bloomendal  as  aforesaid.”  (1732.) 

Another  advertisement  (1767)  will  give  some  idea 
of  what  was  considered  desirable  in  a typical  house 
and  grounds  of  the  period  : 

“ To  be  sold  several  lots  at  Corlear’s  Hook,  about  one  mile 
from  the  City,  now  in  the  tenure  and  occupation  of  Edward 
Smith.  Dwelling-house,  stable,  fowl-house  and  other  neces- 
saries; the  house  contains  five  rooms,  four  of  which  have  fire- 
places with  a good  oven  in  the  kitchen,  there  is  a well  in  the 
yard  36  feet  deep  and  stoned  up  all  the  way,  with  a new  pump. 
The  rest  of  the  land  is  laid  out  in  a spacious  garden,  which 
the  present  possessor  has  spared  no  pains  to  render  both  agree- 
able and  profitable,  in  it  there  is  near  300  fruit  trees  all  in 
bearing  order,  consisting  of  apples,  pears,  plumbs,  peaches, 
nectarines,  apricots,  quinces  and  English  cherries;  all  of  the 
choicest  fruit  and  in  great  variety;  likewise  great  plenty  of 
currants,  gooseberries,  raspberries  and  English  strawberries  of 
the  different  sorts ; also  eighteen  beds  of  the  best  Battersea 
asparagus,  in  full  growth  for  cutting,  besides  many  thousands 
of  puny  plants  fit  for  transplanting  the  ensuing  season  with  a 
nursery  of  several  thousand  young  trees,  many  of  them  inocu- 
lated with  the  best  kinds  of  fruit;  there  is  also  100  hills  of 
hops  which  may  be  cultivated  to  good  account  with  little 
trouble;  likewise  a root  cellar  22  feet  by  11  stoned  up  all 
around  ; also  a summer  house  and  alcove — the  whole  is  in  good 
board  fence  and  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  situations  about  the 
city  as  it  commands  a view  of  the  East  River  and  harbour 
from  Staten  Island  almost  to  Hell  Gate.” 

These  farms  or  estates,  therefore,  were  provided 
with  all  that  could  make  life  pleasant  and  luxurious. 
Gardens,  greenhouses,  fish-ponds,  sometimes  wharves, 
stables,  paddocks,  and,  occasionally,  deer-parks. 

44 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

An  example  of  a New  York  Colonial  country- 
house  is  shown  in  the  frontispiece.  This  was  built  in 
1748  by  Frederick  van  Cortlandt.  It  enables  us  to 
form  a clear  idea  of  the  average  solid  mansion  of  the 
period. 

The  islands  in  the  bay  and  river  formed  one  of 
the  important  features  of  the  landscape.  Where  the 
statue  of  Liberty  now  stands  was  a pleasant  and 
profitable  spot  in  the  old  days.  At  one  time  it  be- 
longed to  Captain  Kennedy,  afterwards  Earl  of  Cas- 
silis.  It  is  thus  described  in  1753  : 

“To  be  Let.  Bedloe’s  Island,  alias  Love  Island,  together 
with  the  dwelling-house  and  light-house,  being  finely  situated 
for  a tavern,  where  all  kind  of  garden  stuff,  poultry,  etc.,  may 
be  easily  raised  for  the  shipping,  outward  bound,  and  from 
where  any  quantity  of  pickled  oysters  may  be  transported;  it 
abounds  with  English  rabbits.” 

Governors  Island,  then  known  as  Nutten  Island, 
was  both  useful  and  ornamental.  The  channel  between 
it  and  New  York  was  very  shallow;  in  fact,  at  low 
tide,  cattle  used  to  walk  from  one  to  the  other.  The 
Council  set  it  apart  as  a private  domain  for  the  governor 
of  this  province.  Governor  Cosby  used  it  as  a game 
preserve.  In  1738,  the  legislature  passed  an  Act  to 
preserve  the  breed  of  English  pheasants  in  this  colony. 
This  act  declares  that  “whereas  the  late  Governor 
[Cosby]  did  place  about  a half  a dozen  couple  of 
English  pheasants  on  Nutten  Island  and  first  pinioned 
them  to  the  end  that  they  might  remain  there  to 
propagate  their  species  with  a view  that  their  increase 
would  spread  from  thence  and  stock  the  country  with 
their  kind  ; 


45 


Social  New  York  Under  (be  Georges 


“ And  whereas,  the  said  fowls  not  only  have  increased 
vastly  on  the  said  island,  but  many  of  them  already  spread  over 
to  Nassau  Island,  and  in  all  probability  will  soon  stock  the 
country  if  people  are  restrained  from  destroying  them  for  a 
few  years,  the  present  Governor  being  also  desirous  that  the 
whole  colony  may  be  stocked  with  these  birds,”  it  was  enacted 
that  no  birds  should  be  killed  nor  eggs  taken  for  a year.  The 
experiment  was  not  a success. 

The  first  bridge  connecting  New  York  with  the 
mainland  was  the  King’s  Bridge,  across  the  Harlem 
River,  erected  by  Frederick  Phillipse  at  the  close  of 
the  Seventeenth  Century.  It  was  a toll-bridge  and 
the  charges  were  ninepence  for  each  carriage  ; three- 
pence for  each  horse  and  head  of  cattle  ; and  one 
penny  for  a person.  The  people  objected  to  the  toll 
and  also  to  the  fact  that  the  gates  were  locked  at 
night.  However,  this  was  the  only  crossing  until 
1 759,  when  Free  Bridge  Dyckman’s  was  opened. 
This  had  been  built  by  several  private  individuals 
upon  Jacob  Dyckman’s  land,  a little  to  the  south  of 
the  King’s  Bridge,  from  which  the  toll  was  lifted 
almost  immediately. 

The  oldest  ferry  was  from  the  present  Peck  Slip 
to  the  Fulton  Ferry  in  Brooklyn,  but  no  ferry-house 
was  erected  until  1698,  when  one  was  built  on  Nas- 
sau Island  (Long  Island),  “a  good  sufficient  house 
of  stone  and  brick,  forty  foot  in  length  and  twenty- 
four  in  breadth,  for  ye  accomodation  and  conven- 
iency  of  ye  persons  that  farmeth  ye  said  Ferry.”  The 
“ farmer”  kept  it  as  a public  house  of  entertainment. 
The  point  where  the  people  from  Brooklyn  were 
landed,  “ Burgher’s  Path,”  the  “ first  slip,”  was  known 
subsequently  as  the  “ Old  Slip.”  Ferry-boats  landed 

46 


Aspects  of  the  Small  Town 

here  in  1703,  and  also  at  “Countess  Key”  (Fly 
Market). 

About  1732,  the  ferry  rates  between  Long  Island 
were  twopence  for  every  person  and  double  that  rate 
after  sunset ; for  every  horse  or  beast,  one  shilling  ; 
calf  or  hog,  three  pence  ; dead  sheep,  lamb  or  calf, 
twopence ; bushel  of  grain,  one  penny ; every  waggon, 
five  shillings  ; for  every  gammon  of  bacon,  turkey 
or  goose,  one  half-penny ; and  for  every  hundred 
eggs,  three  eggs. 

The  Ferry  at  the  foot  of  the  Fly  Market  had  be- 
come so  congested  with  boats  in  1761  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  pass  a law  “that  no  sloop,  boat 
or  vessel,  except  small  craft  such  as  ferry-boats,  mar- 
ket-boats, pettiaugers  and  canoes  shall  come  within 
the  slip.”  The  penalty  was  forty  shillings.  This  gives 
us  some  idea  regarding  the  size  of  the  ferry-boats. 

In  1772,  the  city  agreed  to  establish  ferries  “from 
Coenties  Market  to  the  landing-place  of  Philip  Liv- 
ingston, Esq.,  and  Mr.  Henry  Remsen  on  Nassau 
Island  ; another  from  Fly  Market  to  the  present 
ferry  at  Brooklyn,  and  a third  from  ‘ Peck  Slip  ’ to 
land  at  the  place  last  mentioned.”  Two  years  later 
Saint  George’s  Ferry  was  provided  “from  a stairs 
directly  fronting  the  Broad  Street  at  the  east  side  of 
the  Long  Bridge,  and  on  Long  Island  at  a stairs  built 
at  the  dock  of  Mr.  Remsen.” 

The  slips  were  Whitehall,  named  from  Colonel 
Moore’s  large  house  which  was  near  by  ; Coenties, 
named  for  Coen  and  Antey  (Conrad  and  Jane)  Ten 
Eyck,  who  lived  at  the  corner  of  Little  Dock  Street  ; 
Burling,  named  for  the  Quaker  Merchant,  Edward 

47 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Burling ; Beekman,  named  for  the  family  of  that 
name  ; Peck,  named  for  Benjamin  Peck,  a wealthy 
citizen  ; and  one  slip  on  the  Hudson  side  at  the  foot 
of  Oswego  (now  Liberty)  Street. 

In  addition  to  these,  there  were  ferries  to  Powles 
Hook,  Perth  Amboy  and  Staten  Island.  Some  idea 
of  the  latter  may  be  gathered  from  the  following 
announcement  : 

“Staten  Island,  1767. 

“The  subscriber  (John  Watson)  intending  to  remove  to 
New  York,  will  dispose  of  the  Ferry  and  Farm  he  now  lives  on, 
being  on  the  East  End  of  Staten  Island. 

“In  regard  to  a ferry,  it  is  the  best  situated  on  the  Island, 
as  the  boats  can  go  and  come  from  New  York  with  most  winds, 
and  but  one  tide  to  encounter  with,  which  is  of  great  ease  to 
the  passengers,  and  is  the  reason  that  it  is  more  frequented 
than  any  of  the  rest  of  the  ferries;  it  has  also  a considerable 
run  for  carrying  passengers  to  Long  Island,  which  brings  a 
handsome  yearly  income.  Most  of  the  shipping  that  goes  out 
of  New  York  anchors  just  opposite  the  door,  being  the  anchor- 
ing ground  for  the  watering-place,  which  makes  it  not  only  very 
pleasant,  but  of  considerable  advantage  to  the  place,  in  carry- 
ing the  passengers  and  ships  crews  backwards  and  forwards  to 
New  York.  It  also  occasions  a great  run  to  the  house  which  is 
the  very  sinew  of  a tavern.  The  boats  that  attend  this  ferry 
are  often  employed  to  run  down  to  the  Hook  with  despatches 
for  vessels  that  may  be  there ; and  the  men  of  war  which  often 
lie  here,  employ  them  to  bring  their  ships’  stores,  etc.  from  New 
York.  There  is  an  excellent  dock  for  the  conveniency  of  the 
boats  ; and  the  best  roads  on  the  island  are  from  this  place  to  Am- 
boy, the  old  and  new  Blazing-Star  and  Elizabeth-Town  Point.” 

A ferry  from  Perth  Amboy  to  Staten  Island  was 
provided  in  1737.  The  rates  were  fourteen  pence 
(Jersey  currency)  for  man  and  horse,  and  fivepence 
for  a single  passenger. 


48 


Kitchen  in  the  Van  Cortlandt  house. 


PART  II 


HOUSES  AND  FURNITURE 


PART  II 


HOUSES  AND  FURNITURE 


I 

EVIDENCES  OF  LUXURIOUS  LIVING 

Before  1700,  New  York  already  numbered  among 
her  citizens  many  rich  merchants.  As  early  as  1674, 
there  were  ninety-four  burghers  whose  estates  were 
valued  at  more  than  a thousand  guilders  each  ; and 
twenty-two  of  these  estates  represented  between  five 
and  ten  thousand  guilders.  Johannes  van  Burgh, 
Jacob  Leisler  and  Johannes  de  Peyster  were  each 
worth  about  fifteen  thousand.  The  other  rich  mer- 
chants were  Cornelis  van  Ruyven  (18,000)  ; Jeroninus 
Ebbing  (30,000)  ; John  Lawrence  (40,000)  ; Olaf  van 
Cortlandt  (45,000)  ; Nicholas  de  Meyer  (50,000)  ; 
Cornelis  Steenwyck  (50,000)  ; and  Hendrick  Philip- 
sen  (80,000). 

Wealth  was  rapidly  accumulated  from  the  fur  and 
timber  trade  and  from  general  barter.  Twelve  years 
later,  Air.  Steenwyck  was  worth  about  ;£  16,000,  an 
immense  sum  in  those  days.  By  1700,  there  were  a 
good  many  burghers  whose  estates  amounted  to 
^5,000.  John  Spratt  (1697)  with  an  estate  of  ^3,779 
and  Col.  Lewis  Morris  (1691)  with  ^4,928,  are  in- 
stances of  opulent  Britishers. 

53 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

An  examination  of  the  inventories  shows  that 
wealth  and  luxury  were  not  despised.  Men  came 
here  to  make  money,  and  they  spent  it  lavishly  on 
their  homes  and  persons.  They  went  richly  and 
fashionably  dressed,  and  their  homes  were  provided 
with  every  comfort,  convenience  and  ornament  it  was 
possible  to  procure.  Their  wives  wore  dresses  of  rich 
material  and  had  costly  jewelry ; their  walls  were 
adorned  with  fine  pictures  by  Dutch  masters  ; their 
tables  were  bright  with  massive  silver ; and  their 
rooms  were  full  of  fine  furniture  of  English,  Dutch 
and  Oriental  manufacture. 

Queen  Mary  is  generally  credited  with  setting  the 
taste  in  England  for  porcelains  and  other  Eastern 

wares  when  she  had 
shelves  and  cabinets 
fitted  up  in  Hampton 
Court  on  taking  up  her 
residence  there  in  1690. 
Long  before  this,  how- 
ever, porcelain  and  lac- 
quer ware  were  found 
in  New  York  houses, 
and  sometimes  in  con- 
siderable quantities.  As 
the  English  element 
began  to  predominate, 
merchants  of  that  na- 
tion grew  rich  in  in- 
creasing numbers  and 
luxury  and  fashion  became  more  pronounced.  The 
governors  who  came  here  were  men  of  birth,  breeding 

54 


Rush-bottom  and  leather  chairs  ; in 
the  Museum  of  the  New  York 
Colonial  Dames.  Seepage  i io. 


Houses  and  Furniture 

and  education,  and  accustomed  to  the  best  that  wealth 
and  fashion  could  give.  Bellomont  was  a friend  of 
King  William  ; Cornbury  was  a Royal  rake  of  the 
first  order  ; Hunter  was  a wit  and  beau  ; Burnet  was 
a friend  and  supporter  of  the  House  of  Hanover 
before  the  accession  of  George  I.  ; and  all  the  other 
governors,  including  De  Lancey,  had  been  accustomed 
to  the  best  society  and  familiar  with  kings’  courts. 

The  picture  so  often  drawn  of  the  goodwife  spin- 
ning in  the  kitchen,  which  forms  the  general  living- 
room  of  the  house,  is  therefore  misleading  when  we 
are  dealing  with  the  wealthy  class.  The  latter  lived 
in  fine  houses  in  town  with  adjoining  gardens,  stables 
and  offices,  or  had  country-seats  not  far  from  the  city 
where  they  were  in  easy  reach  of  business.  There 
were  very  few  of  them  who  were  not  engaged  in 
shipping  or  foreign  trade  of  some  kind.  They  made 
money  in  all  sorts  of  ways  ; farming  was  the  least 
of  their  activities.  In  fact,  farming  on  a large  scale 
was  not  possible,  because  the  area  of  land  around 
their  country-seats  was  usually  comparatively  small. 

Take,  for  instance,  the  country-seat  of  Alexander 
Colden,  Esq.  It  is  described  as  “ situate  on  Nassau 
Island,  fronting  and  commanding  a fine  view  of  the 
harbour  and  city  of  New  York.  It  consists  of  a 
dwelling-house  and  about  nine  acres  of  excellent 
land.  The  house  is  large  and  commodious,  and  the 
offices  numerous  and  convenient.  In  the  garden  and 
orchard  are  choice  collections  of  fruits,  and  of  the 
best  Newtown,  Spitzenburg  and  other  apple-trees  ; 
and  towards  the  river  on  a wharf  newly  erected  are 
a storehouse  and  boat  house.” 


55 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

The  merchants  and  gentry  of  New  York  were 
always  ready  for  a trade  venture  that  promised  profit. 
It  must  be  confessed  also  that  they  were  not  always 
over  scrupulous.  They  would  traffic  with  pirates  and 
send  supplies  to  their  haunts  ; and  notwithstanding 
prohibitions,  they  would  barter  firearms  and  fire-water 
with  the  Indians.  They  did  not  hesitate  to  evade 
the  laws  of  trade,  such  as  customs,  when  they  could 
safely  do  so  ; and  sometimes  they  were  publicly  ac- 
cused of  giving  aid  and  comfort  to  the  King’s  enemies 
by  furnishing  the  French  and  Spanish  with  provi- 
sions, arms  and  munitions  of  war.  Their  privateering 
ventures  also  prospered  ; and  the  result  of  this  mis- 
cellaneous foreign  and  domestic  trade  was  that  the 
riches,  luxuries  and  elegances  of  two  hemispheres 
were  landed  on  the  wharves  of  New  York. 

The  simplest  way  to  gain  a clear  idea  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  wealthier  homes  of  citizens  during  the 
Eighteenth  Century  is  to  examine  a few  of  the  in- 
ventories of  men  in  different  stations  of  life  ; — official, 
mercantile  and  professional — beginning  early  in  the 
century. 

Let  us  note  for  the  sake  of  future  comparison  the 
possessions  of  one  Cornelis  Jacobs  in  1700,  who  was 
worth  ,£1953-19-3.  He  owned  a cedar  chest  worth 
£3  ; six  leather  and  six  cane  chairs,  £6  ; three  ham- 
mocks, £2  ; a chest-of-drawers,  two  stands  and  a 
table,  £7;  a walnut  table,  £1-10-0;  three  looking- 
glasses,  £3-12—0;  five  pictures,  £2;  a whitewood 
bedstead  with  furniture,  including  a speckled  silk 
coverlid,  £12-7-0;  a pair  of  brass  andirons  and  iron 
frame,  £1-4-0  ; 1 pair  of  andirons  and  1 pair  of  dogsv 

56 


Houses  and  Furniture 


£\-io~o  \ i cupboard  and  lignum-vitse  punchbowl, 
£2  ; a bedstead  and  furniture,  ^7-10-0;  a children’s 
bedstead  and  furniture,  ^1-10-0;  a table  and  six  old 
chairs,  10  shillings;  a brass  lamp,  3 shillings;  1 glass 
case,  three  shillings  ; two  chimney  cloths,  10  shillings  ; 
a white  muslin  cloth  for  chest  of  drawers,  £o-j-6  ; 
and  a great  deal  of  brassware,  pewter,  china,  earthen- 
ware and  linen. 

Mr.  Jacobs  was  a good  example  of  an  ordinary 
Dutchman,  for  he  had  a few  luxuries.  His  books 
were  worth  no  less  than 
£6,  and  his  295!  ounces  of 
wrought  plate,  ^103-8-6. 

He  possessed  wrought  and 
unwrought  gold  equal  to 
^32-5-0  ; a watch  valued 
at  £4.  ; two  East  India 
small  trinkets,  ,£2-10-0; 
a “ cokernut  ” shell  tipped 
with  silver,  £1  ; a silver- 
headed sword,  £"3-10-0; 
two  canes,  £3 ; two  clasped 
books,  £2-10-0;  “achaine 
of  pearl,”  £5  ; a feather 
tippet,  £1-4-0;  a silver 
box  and  four  buttons, 

£0-19-3  ; “a  china  lack- 
ered bowl,”  £0-3-0  ; two  tortoiseshell  combs, 
£0-10-0;  and  a great  deal  of  money,  some  of  it 
Arabian  and  Spanish.  His  house,  kitchen  and  ground 
were  valued  at  £300. 

Turning  to  an  English  household  in  Oueen  Anne’s 

O O ^ 


Six-legged  high  case-of-drawers  in 
the  Museum  of  the  New  York 
Colonial  Dames.  Seepage  109. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

reign,  let  us  see  what  Col.  William  Smith  of  St. 
George’s,  Suffolk  Co.,  owned  in  1705.  He  was  worth 
^2589-4-0.  To  begin  with,  he  had  six  bedsteads, 
the  handsomest  hung  with  silk  and  valued  at  ^30, 
and  three,  worth  £ 20 , furnished  with  fine  calico  cur- 
tains. He  had  a “ landskip  screen,”  ,£2-10-0;  a 
handsome  chest  of  drawers  of  walnut  and  olive  wood, 
,£15,  and  two  other  chests  of  drawers,  ,£2-15-0;  one 
large  Japanned  looking-glass,  ,£io,  and  two  others 
,£0-15-0;  fifty-two  chairs,  seven  of  which  are  large 
elbow  chairs,  thirteen  leather,  and  twenty-three  cane, 
altogether  £*27-1-1  ; a number  of  feather  beds  and  a 
good  deal  of  household  linen  ; seven  bed  quilts,  one 
of  which  was  of  silk  and  worth  £8. 

He  owned  five  fine  twisted  rugs  valued  at  ,£35  ; 
seventeen  flannel  blankets  worth  £1  each;  silk  and 
other  cushions,  £3-10-0;  three  Turkey-work  carpets 
and  a blue  cloth  carpet,  £4 ; a table,  two  comb  boxes 
and  two  powder  boxes,  £3;  a “silk  twilite  ” for  a 
table  and  8J  yards  of  silk,  £4  ; pictures  worth 
£3-10-0  ; holland  muslin  and  cambric,  £35  ; an  hour- 
glass and  two  cases  of  knives,  £1-4-0;  six  great 
black  leather  trunks,  £6  ; another  one,  and  also  two 
large  hair  and  three  small  hair  trunks,  £4-10-0;  four 
large  cases  and  bottles,  £6  ; 1 case  Venice  glasses, 
£3;  and  books,  £40 ; silver  plate,  £150;  pewter, 
£ 20 ; chinaware,  £5  ; and  flint  glasses,  £3-14-0. 

Among  his  miscellaneous  articles,  we  may  note  a 
violin,  worth  £3  ; a fishing-rod,  two  screws  for  letters 
and  two  pewter  standishes  ; a silver  hilted  cane,  £3  ; 
a blunderbuss  and  some  pistols  ; three  swords,  £8  ; a 
Turkey  scimiter,  £5-10-0  ; a large  compass,  two  per- 

58 


Houses  and  Furniture 


spective  glasses  ; an  instrument  to  try  pearls,  12  shil- 
lings ; a loadstone  and  a touchstone,  £2  ; and  two 
silk  colours  and  two  drums,  £15.  His  wearing 
apparel  was  valued  at  £109;  and,  in  addition,  he 
owned  two  seals,  £2  ; 104  silver  buttons,  £5-10-0  ; 
a silver  watch  and  gold  buttons,  ,£5-10-0 ; eleven 
embroidered  belts,  ,£110;  two  razor  cases,  and  a hone, 
and  sixteen  razors,  £3. 

Colonel  Smith  was  one  of  the  residents  who 
owned  a coach,  which,  with  cushions  and  harness, 
equaled  £40  ; and  a number  of  saddles,  valued  at 
£12-10-0,  among  which  was  a velvet  saddle  and  a 
velvet  side  saddle  worth  £10. 

Judging  from  this  list  of  articles,  even  in  the  days 
of  Oueen  Anne,  when  the  town  was  amused  or 
shocked  at  the  pranks  of  her  kinsman,  the  wild  Lord 
Cornbury,  there  was  considerable  wealth  and  luxury, 
which  had  increased  very  greatly  by  the  time  George 
I.  ascended  the  throne.  Four  years  after  the  latter 
event  (1718),  Captain  Giles  Shelly  of  New  York  had 
the  following  household  furniture.  As  he  was  a very 
rich  man,  worth  no  less  than  £6812-16-7^,  it  is  not 
surprising  to  see  that  he  had  surrounded  himself  with 
every  comfort.  Among  his  goods,  were  five  bed- 
steads. One  had  red  china  curtains  ; one  was  a sack- 
ing bedstead  with  blue  shalloon  curtains  ; one,  a 
canopy  bedstead  with  silk  muslin  curtain  and  white 
muslin  inside  curtain  and  valance  ; another,  with  a 
head  and  tester  cloth  ; and  the  last,  a sacking-bottom 
bedstead  with  a suit  of  striped  muslin  curtains  lined 
with  calico,  a chintz  quilt  going  with  the  latter. 

He  had  seventy  chairs:  one  red  plush  elbow,  one 

59 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

easy-chair,  two  elbow  chairs,  six  of  Turkey-work, 
twenty-one  of  cane,  and  twenty-seven  matted,  and 
twelve  of  leather.  One  cane  couch  was  also  among- 
his  possessions.  Then  there  were  thirteen  tables : 
one,  a small  oval,  one  a large  painted  oval  and  one  a 
large  oval ; one  clock  and  case ; one  repeating  clock  ; 
six  looking-glasses,  two  pairs  of  sconces,  one  of  which 
was  gilt ; a hanging  candlestick ; a pair  of  brass 
candlesticks  with  snuffers ; two  trays  for  tea ; a brass 
lantern;  “ a brass  hearth  with  hooks  for  shovel  and 
tongs  ; ” a dressing-box  ; two  chests-of-drawers  ; a 
chest-of-drawers  and  looking-glass ; a dog  painted  on 
a board  ; two  warming-pans ; seventy-four  pictures, 
some  in  black  and  some  in  gilt  frames,  some  black 
prints  and  “ one  landskip  chimney  piece  ; ” five  chests  ; 
three  Turkey-carpets  ; three  pairs  muslin  curtains  and 
valance  ; four  calico  curtains  with  valance  and  chim- 
ney cloth  ; a flowered  muslin  toilet ; a suit  of  calico 
curtains ; a red  and  gold  satin  carpet ; an  embroidered 
counterpane  ; three  pair  of  arras  hangings  ; “ the  arras 
hangings  from  the  Bowery  four  hand  fire-screens 
a parcel  of  sand-glasses;  a red  rug;  a prospect  glass; 
and  many  feather  beds,  handsome  brass  hearth  furni- 
ture, and  pewter  and  copper  for  the  kitchen. 

He  had  a case  of  knives  and  two  silver-handled 
knives ; a chafing-dish  ; a great  deal  of  valuable  plate, 
including  a tankard  of  24  oz.,  two  silver  chafing-dishes 
and  a pair  of  silver  salts.  The  china  included  a red 
tea-pot,  three  basons,  a sugar-box,  twelve  images  and 
“ six  chaney  lions.”  Captain  Shelly  owned  a sword, 
four  small  arms  and  a trumpet.  Forty-five  beer 
glasses,  a punch-bowl  and  a pipe  of  canary  and  some 

60 


Houses  and  Furniture 


bitter  wine  show  that  he  was  fond  of  good  cheer. 
Two  pairs  of  tables,  men  and  dice  prove  that  he  was 
fond  of  games ; two  fine  coach  horses,  that  he  drove 
about  the  country  in  style ; two  patch-boxes,  that  he 
wore  the  fashionable  mouches  upon  his  cheeks ; and  a 
lot  of  jewelry,  that  he  was  fond  of  pretty  trinkets. 
Among  his  curios,  he  had  a “ deer’s  foot  tipped  with 
gold.” 

As  a contrast  to  the  home  of  a rich  country- 
gentleman,  we  may  examine  the  belongings  of  Gov- 
ernor William  Burnet,  who  died  in  1729,  worth 
^4540-4-3^.  His  home  in  Perth  Amboy  was  lux- 
urious and  filled  with  the  most  fashionable  articles  of 
the  day,  yet  some  of  it  must  have  belonged  to  an 
older  period,  since  certain  pieces  of  furniture  are 
referred  to  as  “much  shattered.”  He  owned  two 
eight-day  clocks,  each  valued  at  ^18  ; a scrutoire  with 
glass  doors,  £20  \ eleven  tables,  one  an  oval  of  black 
walnut,  another,  a large  one  of  black  walnut,  a third, 
a plain  tea-table,  a fourth,  a japanned  tea-table,  a fifth, 
a small  round  table,  a sixth,  a card-table  much  shat- 
tered ; and  others,  a square  table,  an  oval  table,  and  a 
small  square  table,  and  plain  tables. 

“A  fine  gilt  cabinet  and  frame  much  shattered” 
must  have  been  an  unusual  piece  of  furniture  for 
even  in  its  dilapidated  condition  it  is  valued  at  £12. 

This  was  probably  one  of  those  handsome  cabi- 
nets of  the  Regency,  or  early  Louis  XV.  style.  His 
looking-glasses  and  sconces  seem  to  have  been  hand- 
some : one  is  described  as  large  with  glass  arms ; he 
also  had  a small  dressing-glass.  His  beds  included 
a “coach  bed  with  chintz  curtains,”  worth  £25  ; there 

61 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

was  another  with  red  curtains,  valued  at  £io\  and  a 
third,  an  iron  bedstead,  with  chintz  curtains,  worth 
£ 7- 1 0-0.  Among  other  articles,  were  a writing-desk 
and  stand,  a linen-press,  a horse  for  drying  clothes, 
an  old  chest-of-drawers,  a mattress  of  Russia  leather, 
a brass  hearth  and  dogs,  two  old  checquered  canvases 


Walnut  chairs  and  writing-desk,  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin 
S.  Church.  See  page  65. 


to  lay  under  a table,  and  “ a large  painted  canvas 
square  as  the  room.”  The  latter  was  valued  at  £8. 

The  Governor’s  chairs  consisted  of  twenty-four 
red  leather  chairs  with  embowed  backs,  worth 
^28-16-0;  fifteen  bass  bottomed  chairs  and  a child’s 
chair,  eight  walnut  framed  chairs,  nine  embowed  or 
hollow  back  chairs  with  fine  bass  bottoms,  £9  ; seven 

62 


Houses  and  Furniture 


walnut  chairs  with  fine  bass  bottoms,  £7  ; two  bass 
chairs,  four  ordinary  chairs,  and  an  easy  chair  covered 
with  silk.  He  owned  four  pieces  of  tapestry  valued 
at  £20 ; “a  fine  piece  of  needlework  representing  a 
rustick  ”,  £5  ; a fire-screen  of  tapestry  work ; two 
paper  fire-screens ; and  two  four-leaf  screens  covered 
with  gilt  leather,  worth  £15. 

The  silver,  china,  glass  and  pewter,  were  very 
valuable.  He  had  no  less  than  a dozen  silver  candle- 
sticks and  “two  branches  for  three  lights,”  amount- 
ing, with  other  plate,  to  1172  ounces.  Three  dozen 
silver  knives  and  three  dozen  silver  forks  in  three 
cases  were  worth  another  £72  ; his  china  and  glass, 
;£ 130- 16-0  ; and  the  pewter  was  valued  at  ^100-2-6. 
Governor  Burnet  seems  to  have  been  quite  a col- 
lector of  pictures.  He  owned  15 1 Italian  prints,  20 
“ masentinto  prints,”  besides  numerous  other  pictures 
in  black  or  glazed  frames. 

Governor  Burnet’s  successor,  Governor  Mont- 
gomerie, lived  no  less  elegantly.  He  established  him- 
self at  Fort  George,  and  prepared  in  every  way  to 
enjoy  life,  to  make  friends  and  to  render  his  rule 
popular  and  brilliant.  He  had  eight  negro  slaves  to 
wait  upon  him  and  one  to  entertain  him,  a musician, 
worth  double  as  much  as  any  of  the  others.  The 
Governor  owned  sixteen  horses,  a four-wheeled  chaise 
and  harness,  a coach  with  a set  of  fine  harness,  two 
sets  of  travelling-harness,  and  a fine  suit  of  embroid- 
ered horse-furniture  with  bridles,  bits,  etc.,  etc.  His 
barge  with  its  accoutrements,  was  worth  £ 2 5 and  he 
had  a small  four-oared  boat.  His  wine  cellar  must 
have  been  stocked  with  choice  vintages,  since  it  was 

63 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

valued  at  ^2500,  and  his  library  must  also  have  been 
unusual,  for  it  was  estimated  at  ^200. 

Naturally,  his  dwelling  was  richly  appointed.  He 
had  a fine  yellow  camlet  bed  valued  at  ^15  ; a pair  of 
large  sconces  with  gilded  frames,  £9  ; walnut  framed 
sconces  and  branches,  £9  ; an  eight-day  clock,  £ 8 ; 
a repeating  table-clock,  £8  \ a large  looking-glass 
with  a gilt  frame,  £/\. ; a gilt  leather  screen,  £$  ; 
twelve  leather  chairs,  ^3-12-0;  six  new  black-bot- 
tomed chairs,  £6 ; twelve  new-fashioned  matted 
chairs,  ^4-8-0  ; and  six  yellow  chairs, — thirty-six  in 
all  ; a bed  with  blue  china  curtains  ; four  pairs  of 
crimson  harrateen  window  curtains  and  five  pairs  of 
yellow  camlet  curtains. 

Among  other  articles  were  a Japanned  tea-table,  a 
pair  of  gilded-frame  sconces,  a large  chimney-glass, 
and  a walnut  card-table.  Two  dozen  knives  and 
forks,  a complete  set  of  china,  Japanned  fruit  plates, 
cut  glass  cruets,  water  and  champagne  glasses,  and  a 
great  deal  of  silver.  His  important  pictures  repre- 
sented Greenwich  Park,  a vineyard,  some  goats,  a 
landscape,  sheep-shearing,  and  a water  scene.  He 
had  a parrot  cage  and  a “ Tycken  ” umbrella.  Some 
of  these  articles  and  some  additional  ones  were  of- 
fered for  sale  shortly  afterwards. 

Passing  over  a period  of  ten  years,  we  may  gain 
an  idea  of  a typical  rich  man’s  house  towards  the 
middle  of  the  century,  — that  of  Rip  Van  Dam, 
who  had  held  the  office  of  President  of  the  Council 
and  acting  Governor.  The  house  he  lived  in  was 
worth  about  £500.  It  was  of  brick  and  was  two 
stories  high.  The  worth  of  his  household  furniture 

64 


Houses  and  Furniture 


and  negro  slaves  was  estimated  at  from  ^250  to  ^300. 
Among  his  goods  and  chattels,  he  had  a Japanned 
chest-of-drawers,  valued  at  £^  ; a black  walnut  table, 
a looking-glass,  a desk  and  bookcase,  ten  chairs,  an 
elbow  chair,  (^4)  ; a clock,  {£<£)  ; a large  table,  a 
chest-of-drawers,  twelve  leather  chairs,  twelve  black 
chairs,  a mahogany  table,  a writing-desk,  a screen, 
two  sconces,  and  a backgammon  table.  He  also 
owned  a silver-hilted  sword,  and  twelve  gold  rings. 
H is  negroes  came  to  ^50  ; and  his  silver  to  £90. 

Two  interesting  chairs,  whose  style  dates  from 
about  1 720,  appear  on  page  62.  These  are  walnut 
with  high  crown-backs,  jar-shaped  splats,  cabriole  legs 
and  hoof  feet.  The  writing-desk  was  given  by  Gen. 
Washington  to  Gen.  Walter  Stewart.  They  are 
owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  S.  Church,  of 
New  York. 


(t  Men,  women,  boys  and  girls, 
to  be  sold  cheap.”  (1767.) 


6 


65 


II 


LIVING-ROOMS  AND  THEIR  CONTENTS 

The  ordinary  modest  house  of  the  period  was  of 
two  stories  with  a basement.  On  the  first  floor  were 
two  rooms,  used  for  the  parlour  and  dining-room,  occa- 
sionally divided  by  glass  doors.  Up-stairs  were  three 
bedrooms,  the  extra  one,  of  course,  being  a small 
one  over  the  hall  or  entry.  In  the  basement  were 
the  cellar-kitchen  and  the  wine-cellar.  The  kitchen 
was  usually  in  an  additional  back  building  of  two 
stories,  the  upper  one  reserved  for  the  negro  slaves. 
Frequently  the  house  had  a wing  fitted  up  as  an 
office. 

A home  of  this  type  was  occupied  by  Abraham 
Lodge  who  had  built  up  quite  a fortune  in  his  twenty 
years’  practice  as  a lawyer.  The  house  was  so  cor- 
rectly furnished  that  it  may  be  taken  as  an  example 
of  the  prosperous  New  York  home  of  1750.  It  was. 
a two-story  brick  house  with  basement.  The  hall 
contained  four  high-backed  Windsor  chairs  and  two 
lanterns.  From  it  you  entered  the  parlour,  completely 
furnished  in  mahogany.  Here  were  eight  mahogany 
chairs  with  cabriole  legs  and  claw-and-ball  feet,  the 
seats  of  crimson  silk  damask.  There  was  a large 
mahogany  scrutoire  and  bookcase  with  glass-doors  ; 
a small  mahogany  dining-table ; a round  mahogany 
tea-table  ; and  a mahogany  card-table.  A large  pier- 

66 


Houses  and  Furniture 


glass,  a large  chimney-glass,  and  a large  gilt-framed 
picture  brightened  the  walls,  and  the  room  glowed 
with  the  light  of  sparkling  logs  on  the  brass  andirons, 
near  which  stood  the  customary  shovel,  tongs  and 
bellows.  Eleven  other  pictures  contributed  addi- 
tional ornaments,  as  well  as  a great  array  of  cut  glass 
and  burnt  china  ware,  then  extremely  fashionable. 
A valuable  treasure  in  this  room  was  a casket  in 
which  the  family  jewelry  was  kept,  consisting  of  a 


Child’s  rocking-chair  and  leather-covered  cradle  ; in  the  Museum  of  the 
New  York  Colonial  Dames.  See  page  78. 


gentleman’s  gold  watch,  a lady’s  gold  watch  and  sev- 
eral diamond  rings.  There  was  also  some  handsome 
family  silver. 

The  dining-room  was  scarcely  less  comfortable. 
The  fireplace  was  furnished  with  brass  andirons,  and 
the  light  was  softened  by  green  window  curtains. 
Here  was  a large  mahogany  oval  table,  a clock,  ten 
matted  chairs,  a large  sconce  with  gilt  frame,  two 
glass  sconce  candlesticks,  a number  of  small  pictures 

67 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

and  all  the  table  furniture,  among  which  a lot  of  blue 
and  white  china  was  conspicuously  displayed. 

Up-stairs  were  three  rooms.  The  front  bedroom 
was  the  guest-chamber,  and,  like  the  drawing-room, 
was  furnished  with  the  greatest  care  in  fashionable 
Chippendale  taste.  The  large  mahogany  bedstead 
was  unusually  handsome  because  it  had  claw-and-ball 
feet  ; its  tester  and  curtains  were  of  red  stamped 
camlet,  and  red  was  the  colour  of  the  room.  There 
was  a mahogany  easy  chair  with  claw-and-ball  feet 
and  a crimson  silk  damask  cover  and  cushion  ; a 
mahogany  dressing-table  with  drawers  ; a mahogany 
tea-table  with  claw-and-ball  feet  and  upon  it  a “paint- 
ed table  cover  ” ; an  iron  bound  chest  and  a small 
gilt  leather  trunk  stood  on  the  floor.  Upon  the 
walls  hung  two  gilt-framed  sconces,  two  large  gilt- 
framed pictures,  three  small  pictures,  and  two  small 
black-framed  pictures.  The  china  in  this  room  con- 
sisted of  a large  blue  and  white  bowl  and  six  burnt 
china  coffee  cups  and  saucers. 

The  back  bedroom  contained  a large  bedstead  and 
a small  folding-bedstead  for  children.  The  rest  of 
the  furniture  comprised  a small  black-framed  looking- 
glass,  two  black  framed  pictures  and  a small  table 
with  leaves.  This  sombre  hue  was  relieved  by  the 
presence  of  six  red  leather  chairs  and  the  bright  fire 
upon  the  brass  andirons.  Mr.  Lodge  had  two  silver- 
hilted  small  swords  and  walking-cane. 

The  third  room,  over  the  entry,  was  small  ; and 
here  was  only  an  old  walnut  cupboard — an  old-fash- 
ioned Kas — and  a close-chair.  The  basement  was  de- 
voted to  the  cellar,  kitchen,  wine-cellar,  and  store- 

68 


room. 


Houses  and  Furniture 


Mr.  Lodge  kept  four  slaves,  a man,  two 
women,  and  a girl,  who  lived  over  the  kitchen  at  the 
back  of  the  house.  Still  farther  away  was  the  stable. 

Adjoining  the  house  was  Mr.  Lodge’s  office,  fur- 
nished with  a writing-desk,  table  and  stand,  three 
matted  chairs  and  his  library.  Above  this  office,  he 
had  a private  room  to  which  he  might  retire  for  rest. 

The  Walton  house,  built  in  1752,  and  which  has 
already  been  mentioned,  was  richly  appointed.  Most 
of  the  woodwork,  including  the  staircase,  was  of  ma- 
hogany and  the  furniture  was  of  this  wood.  The 
handsomest  curtains  were  of  silk  damask,  which  was 
the  material  used  for  covering  many  of  the  chairs  and 
sofas.  There  were  a number  of  green  Windsor  chairs 
in  the  house.  Some  of  the  furniture  was  upholstered 
with  the  hair-seating  that  had  then  become  fashionable. 
There  were  three  large  walnut  and  gilt-framed  mirrors 
in  the  house.  Mr.  Walton  had  acquired  an  immense 
fortune  in  his  commercial  ventures  and  made  himself 
exceedingly  popular.  On  the  return  of  the  British 
army  from  their  victories  in  Canada  in  1759,  he  en- 
tertained the  officers  in  magnificent  style,  and  it  is  said 
that  the  wealth  displayed  here  was  brought  forward 
at  home  by  some  of  these  travellers  as  a proof  that 
the  American  colonists  were  perfectly  able  to  pay 
taxes  for  the  war.  The  silver  that  was  in  daily  use 
in  this  luxurious  home  will  be  described  elsewhere. 

Another  handsome  dwelling  was  that  of  de  Pey- 
ster,  in  Oueen  Street,  near  Pearl.  It  gained  histor- 
ical interest  when  Governor  Clinton  lived  there  and 
Washington  used  the  house  for  headquarters.  Abra- 
ham de  Peyster,  a descendant  of  Johannes  de  Peyster 

69 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

(a  native  of  Holland  and  a merchant  of  New  Amster- 
dam) and  mayor  of  New  York  in  1691-5,  was  pos- 
sessed of  great  wealth. 

The  house  that  he  built  in  1695,  and  that  remained 
standing  until  1856,  was  situated  in  Pearl  Street,  and 
was  a fine  specimen  of  the  rich  home  of  the  day.  It 
was  of  three  stories  with  a balcony  over  its  generous 
door.  The  parlour,  on  the  first  floor,  was  furnished 
with  a couch  and  fifteen  mahogany  and  black  walnut 
chairs  and  several  tables  : one  of  these  a round  ma- 
hogany card-table  ; another,  a square  mahogany  card- 
table  ; a third,  an  old  mahogany  table  ; and  there 
were  also  a Japanned  tea-table  ; and  two  marble  tables 
and  stands.  The  fireplace  was  furnished  with  an  iron 
hearth  with  brass  handles,  tongs,  shovel,  and  brush  ; 
and  near  it  stood  a fire-screen.  A mahogany  desk 
and  bookcase  with  glass  doors  and  a large  pier-glass 
completed  the  furniture  of  this  room. 

Upon  the  walls  hung  thirteen  glazed  pictures  and 
three  landscape  paintings — one  large  and  one  small — 
and  seven  pictures  painted  on  wood  and  canvas. 
Light  was  contributed  by  two  glass  candlesticks  with 
branches.  The  windows  were  draped  with  curtains. 
Three  cases  of  ivory-handled  knives  and  forks,  a case 
of  plated  ware,  three  china  punch-bowls,  a china  bas- 
ket and  twenty  china  plates,  and  an  entire  china  tea- 
service,  consisting  of  tea-pot,  cream-jug  and  sugar- 
bowl,  besides  cups  and  saucers,  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  refreshments  were  served  so  frequently  in  this 
room  that  it  was  necessary  to  keep  the  dishes  there. 

The  dining-room  was  directly  behind  the  parlour. 
Here  the  most  noticeable  piece  of  furniture  was  the 

70 


Houses  and  Furniture 


large  mahogany  dining-table,  but  there  were  also  a 
mahogany  tea-board  and  a round  mahogany  table. 
Seven  black  walnut  chairs  with  blue  worsted  bottoms 
furnished  the  seats ; the  windows  were  hung  with 
calico  curtains  ; and  a canvas  cloth  was  spread  upon 
the  floor.  Andirons,  shovel,  and  tongs  gave  evidence 
of  the  cheerful  open  wood  fire.  The  other  furniture 


Chairs  from  the  Museum  of  the  New  York  Colonial  Dames. 
See  page  109. 


included  a clock,  a fire-screen,  a pier-glass,  two  pairs 
of  sconces  with  gilt  frames,  a pair  of  brass  candle- 
sticks, a mahogany  tea  chest,  and  two  portraits, — King 
George  and  Oueen  Caroline. 

In  the  hall  were  two  sofas  covered  with  leather, 
five  leather  chairs,  a dining-table  and  three  lanthorns. 
The  floor  was  laid  with  canvas.  At  the  head  of  the 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


stairs  stood  a tea-table,  a lanthorn,  and  a painted 
wooden  dog. 

The  principal  bedroom  was  known  as  “the  wain- 
scot room.”  The  prevailing  hue  was  green.  The 
bed  was  hung  with  green  worsted  curtains,  and  there 
were  two  green  stools.  The  other  furniture  comprised 
a dressing-table  and  mirror,  a pier-glass,  mahogany 
stand,  six  black  walnut  chairs,  two  arm-chairs,  an  easy 
chair,  a cabinet,  andirons,  tongs  and  shovel. 

Next  was  the  “west  bedroom,”  and  on  the  same 
floor  the  “ tapestry  room  ” hung  with  tapestry  that 
had  once  been  extremely  fashionable  but  was  now 
not  much  valued.  The  chairs  here  were  of  leather. 
On  the  same  floor  there  was  a front  room  used  as  a 
sitting-room.  Here  were  two  Dutch  painted  tea- 
tables,  an  old-fashioned  pier-glass,  fifteen  cane  seat 
chairs,  pictures,  china  tea-cups,  etc. 

Going  up-stairs,  there  was  a “ Blue  Bedroom.” 
Of  course,  the  curtains  of  the  bed  and  windows  were 
blue.  The  furniture  consisted  of  a “ chest-upon- 
chest,”  six  cane  seat  chairs,  a dressing-table,  a home- 
spun  rug,  a pier-glass,  eight  glazed  pictures,  and  five 
India  pictures. 

Upon  this  floor  were  two  other  bedrooms  : one, 
contained  a bedstead  with  curtains,  brass  hearth-fur- 
niture, a looking-glass,  four  glass  sconces,  ten  matted 
chairs,  and  some  pieces  of  earthenware  on  the  mantel- 
piece. In  the  other,  in  addition  to  the  bedstead,  were 
four  matted  chairs,  a slate  table,  a square  deal  table, 
a small  stand  and  five  India  pictures. 

Of  course,  there  were  a garret  and  cellar,  a wine- 
cellar,  and  an  office  or  counting-room.  In  an  exten- 

72 


Houses  and  Furniture 


sion  were  placed  the  kitchen  and  the  apartments  of 
the  negro  slaves.  Farther  away  was  the  stable  where 
were  kept  the  horses,  the  chaise  and  the  double  and 
single  sleigh. 

A good  idea  of  the  luxurious  furniture  of  New 
York  in  the  middle  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  may 
be  gained  by  glancing  at  the  will  of  Mrs.  Alexander, 
widow  of  James  Alexander,  who  died  in  1760. 

She  bequeathed  ^5000  to  her  eldest  son  John,  also 
“ my  late  son  David’s  picture  which  hangs  in  the 
great  room  above  stairs:”  to  her  son  William,  “my 
dwelling-house  with  the  outhouses,  ground,  stables 
and  appurtenances;”  also  “my  largest  and  best  car- 
pet as  also  his  father’s  and  my  picture.”  To  her 
daughter  Mary  Livingston,  “ all  my  wearing  apparel 
whatsoever,  as  linen,  woollen,  silk,  gold  and  jewels 
of  all  kinds,  . . . also  my  chaise  called  the  Boston 
Chaise  and  the  horse  I have  and  keep  at  pasture.” 

To  her  daughter  Elizabeth  Stevens,  the  wife  of 
John  Stevens  of  New  Jersey,  ^100  “ to  purchase 
furniture  for  a bed.”  To  her  daughter  Catherine 
Parker,  “ 16  crimson  damask  chairs,  one  dozen  and 
four  crimson  damask  window  curtains,  the  looking- 
glass,  the  marble  table  that  now  are  in  the  dining- 
room, the  square  tea-table  with  the  china  thereon  in 
the  blue  and  gold  leather  room,  as  also  the  one-half  of 
all  the  china  and  glass  in  all  the  closets,  the  mahogany 
dining-table  the  next  in  size  to  the  largest,  the  ma- 
hogany clothes  chest,  as  also  my  wench  called  Venus 
and  her  two  children  Clarinda  and  Bristol,  also  my  long 
silver  salver,  a silver  tea-kettle  and  lamp,  the  chintz 
bed  in  the  large  back  room  with  the  feather  bed, 

73 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

bolster,  pillows,  bedstead  and  furniture,  . . . my  third 
best  carpet  and  all  my  pictures  not  given  to  any 
other  . . . also  ^ioo  t0  buy  furniture  for  a bed.” 

To  her  youngest  daughter  Susannah,  £ 1 500  ; also 
“ the  two  large  looking-glasses  and  the  two  marble 
tables  which  are  placed  and  stand  under  them,  the 
eighteen  chairs  with  green  bottoms  and  the  green 
window  curtains  ...  in  the  great  Tapestry  Room  above 
stairs,  . . . also  three  sconces  suiting  in  the  above- 
mentioned  glasses  and  the  twelve  chairs  with  green 
bottoms  which  are  in  the  little  front  parlour  below 
stairs,  also  the  looking  glass  and  pictures  that  hang  in 
the  old  parlour  below,  the  green  russell  bed  and  win- 
dow curtains,  the  green  silk  bed  quilt,  two  blankets, 
one  rug,  the  feather  bed,  two  pillows,  bolsters  and 
bedstead  belonging  thereto.  . . . also  the  chintz  bed 
that  stands  in  the  little  back  room,  with  the  bedstead, 
feather  bed,  two  blankets,  one  rug,  one  quilt,  two 
pillows  and  one  bolster,  the  large  Holland  cupboard, 
the  dressing-table  and  dressing-glass,  twelve  chairs 
with  yellow  bottoms,  the  five  pair  of  window  curtains, 
the  square  tea-table  with  white  china  upon  it  which 
are  in  the  room  hung  with  blue  and  gilt  leather,  my 
large  mahogany  table  and  three  small  mahogany 
tables,  my  second  best  carpet,  one  set  of  blue  and 
white  china  dishes  and  plates  for  a table,  also  a tureen, 
eighteen  pair  of  sheets,  36  pillow  cases,  24  table 
cloths,  36  napkins,  24  pewter  dishes,  60  pewter  plates, 
four  of  my  best  kettles,  four  of  my  best  iron  pots, 
four  saucepans,  four  pair  of  andirons,  four  pair  of 
tongs  and  shovels,  24  ivory  handled  knives,  24  do. 
forks,  also  the  other  half  part  of  all  the  china  and 

74 


Houses  and  Furniture 


glass  in  all  the  closets  of  the  house  I live  in  also  . . . 
my  best  silver  tankard  and  two  silver  mugs,  two  pair 
of  silver  salt  cellars,  two  sauce  cups,  12  table  spoons, 
one  silver  bowl,  two  silver  tea  cannisters,  one  sugar 
box,  one  milk  pot,  1 2 teaspoons  and  a tea-tongs,  one 
silver  tea-kettle  and  chafing-dish,  two  small  salvers 
belonging  to  the  tea  table  furniture  and  my  silver 
salver  next  to  the  largest.”  Her  best  horse  and  chaise 


Mahogany  dining-table,  owned  by  Mrs.  W.  Sherwood  Popham. 

See  page  1 1 i . 

she  gave  to  her  daughters  Catherine  and  Susannah 
equally.  All  other  house  linen  was  to  be  shared 
equally  among  her  four  daughters ; all  other  plate 
among  six  children. 

This  was  a very  charming  home.  One  room  was 
evidently  furnished  in  crimson  damask  and  contained 
sixteen  richly  upholstered  chairs  ; another  room  was 
hung  with  blue  and  gold  leather  ; another,  rich  with 

75 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


tapestry,  contained  eighteen  chairs  with  green  bot- 
toms matching  the  curtains  ; and  another  was  in  yel- 
low, if  we  may  judge  from  the  twelve  chairs  with 
yellow  bottoms  and  five  pairs  of  window  curtains. 
These  chairs,  in  all  probability,  were  of  walnut,  or 
mahogany,  with  the  carved  wooden  backs.  Mrs. 
Alexander  had  also  some  handsome  beds,  notably 
the  one  draped  with  green,  the  material  being  a kind 
of  flowered  worsted  damask  known  as  russell.  She 
had  looking-glasses  and  sconces  in  glittering  frames, 
marble  tables,  and  a vast  amount  of  china  and  plate. 
The  large  Holland  cupboard,  which  was,  of  course,  a 
Kas,  shows  that  some  of  her  furniture  was  old. 

Mrs.  Alexander  was  a striking  instance  of  the  fact 
that  in  New  York  the  keeping  of  a shop  in  colonial 
days  did  not  interfere  with  social  position.  She  was 
a woman  of  much  energy  and  enterprise,  and  for 
many  years  had  actually  imported  and  sold  goods. 
She  was  a widow  when  she  was  married  to  James 
Alexander,  who  was  a lawyer  of  wealth  and  distinc- 
tion. Their  son  was  educated  in  England  and  while 
abroad  endeavoured  to  claim  the  title  of  the  Earl  of 
Stirling.  Not  recognized,  he  returned  to  America 
where  he  was  always  addressed  as  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 
Having  noted  the  contents  of  Mrs.  Alexander’s 
home,  it  may  be  interesting  to  read  the  following 
advertisement  that  appeared  in  1761  : 

“To  be  sold  at  prime  cost  the  shop  goods  of  the  late  Mrs. 
Alexander,  consisting  of  Broadcloths,  Ratinets,  Shalloons,  Dur- 
ants, Tammies,  Worsted  Hoses,  Gold  and  Silver  Lace,  Silk  for 
Women’s  Wear,  Ribbons  and  China  ware  and  a Variety  of 
Other  Goods  at  the  House  of  the  late  Mrs.  Alexander.” 

76 


Covered  jar  and  two  beakers  of  Hizen  ware  ; owned  by  the  Beekman  family. 

See  page  izi. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Furniture  for  the  comfort  of  the  children  is  fre- 
quently met  with.  We  have  seen  that  Mr.  Lodge 
had  a folding  bed  for  his  children.  A child’s  rocking- 
chair  and  a leather-covered  cradle  appear  on  page  67. 
The  latter  bears  the  date  1 734  in  brass  nails. 


“Andrew  Gautier,  Windsor  chairs.”  (1765.) 


78 


Ill 


CABINET-MAKERS  AND  VENDUE  SALES 

The  people  of  New  York  had  every  opportunity 
to  furnish  their  homes  handsomely.  Ships  brought 
each  week  the  newest  articles  in  furniture  and  orna- 
ment from  London.  Any  one  who  had  the  means 
and  took  pride  in  living  in  the  best  taste  could 
easily  keep  up  with  European  fashions.  The  cabinet- 
makers and  upholsterers  were  a numerous  race.  New 
artisans  were  constantly  arriving.  They  had  learned 
their  trade  from  English  cabinet-makers  and  were 
ready  to  make  up  “gentlemen’s  goods”  at  the  short- 
est notice  in  accordance  with  the  latest  fashions. 

Some  of  these  cabinet-makers  were  undoubtedly 
experts;  for  instance,  Mr.  John  Brinner,  whose  ad- 
vertisement appears  on  page  97,  was  a master  carver. 
He  brought  with  him  six  artisans  of  ability.  Any 
one  who  is  familiar  with  Chippendale’s  Gentleman  s 
and  Cabinet-Maker  s Directory , cannot  fail  to  recog- 
nize the  style  of  furniture  that  Mr.  Brinner  was  able 
to  make.  We  find  him  mentioning  nearly  every 
article  that  appears  in  Chippendale’s  book  of  de- 
signs, even  to  cases  and  shelves  for  china,  furniture  in 
Gothic  and  Chinese  taste  and  the  heavily  draped  field 
bedsteads. 

We  also  find  Mr.  Joseph  Cox  making  “ribband 
back,”  Gothic,  and  rail-back  chairs,  French  elbow, 

79 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


easy  and  corner  chairs,  canopy,  festoon,  and  field- 
beds,  burgairs,  china-shelves  and  other  articles  that 
only  a master-hand  could  produce. 

By  noting  the  advertisements  of  almost  any  cabi- 
net-makers and  upholsterers  we  can  readily  understand 
the  kind  of  articles  they  made.  For  example,  in 
i 750,  we  read  : 

“James  Huthwaite  and  Stephen  Callow,  upholsterers  from 
London  living  in  the  Bridge  Street,  near  the  Long  Bridge 
makes  all  sorts  of  Beds,  Settees,  Chairs  and  Coaches  after  the 
newest  Fashion  ; likewise  stuffs  Riding  chairs  and  hangs 
Rooms  with  Paper  and  other  things.” 

Stephen  Callow  “ made  Beds,  Chairs,  Settees, 
Suffoys,  couches,  and  likewise  hangs  Rooms  with 
stuff  or  Paper.”  In  1753,  he  advertises  : 

“ Stephen  Callow,  upholsterer  from  London  (near  Oswego 
Market),  makes  all  sorts  of  beds,  chairs,  settees,  sofas,  etc., 
and  hangs  rooms  with  paper  or  stuffs  in  the  neatest  manner. 
He  has  a choice  assortment  of  paper  hangings  and  upholster- 
ers’ goods  at  reasonable  rates.” 

Other  cabinet-makers  dating  from  1754  to  1767 
included  Robert  Wallace,  in  Beaver  Street  ; Thomas 
Griggs,  near  the  Gentlemen’s  Coffee  House  ; John 
Parsons,  between  the  New  and  Fly  Markets  near  his 
late  master  Joshua  Delaplain  ; Gilbert  Ash,  in  Wall 
Street  ; and  Charles  Shipman,  near  the  Old  Slip. 
These  artisans  made  chairs,  easy -chairs,  close-stool 
chairs,  settees,  couches,  all  sorts  of  cabinets,  -scru- 
toires,  desks,  bookcases,  chests-of-drawers,  and  tables 
of  all  kinds, — square,  round,  oval,  plain,  “ scallopt,”  or 
“quadrile.”  Mr.  Brinner,  of  whom  we  have  already 
spoken,  who  arrived  in  1762,  evidently  did  more  elab- 

80 


Houses  and  Furniture 


orate  work.  It  is  quite  interesting  to  note,  however, 
that  there  were  numbers  of  workmen  who  did  noth- 
ing but  carve,  and  among  these  was  Samuel  Dw  ight, 
carver,  who  lived  between  the  Ferry  Stairs  and  Bur- 
ling Slip  and  did  “all  kinds  of  work  for  cabinet- 


Chippendale  chairs  (1750  and  about  1740).  Now  in  the  Museum  of 
the  New  York  Colonial  Dames.  See  page  83. 


makers,” — that  is  to  say,  he  carved  the  furniture  that 
they  made. 

In  1773,  Willett  and  Pearsey,  cabinet  and  chair- 
makers,  were  at  the  Sign  of  the  Clothes  Press,  nearly 
opposite  the  Oswego  Market,  at  the  upper  end  of 
Maiden  Lane,  “where  cabinet  and  chair  work  of 
every  kind  is  punctually  performed  with  the  greatest 
neatness  and  care.”  They  offered  “ three  elegant 
desks  and  bookcases,  chest-upon-chest  of  drawers,  one 

81 


7 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Lady’s  dressing-chest  and  bookcase,  three  desks  and 
one  pair  of  card-tables,  two  sets  of  chairs,  three 
dining-tables,  five  breakfast  tables,  one  clock-case 
furnished  with  a good  plain  eight  day  clock,  sundry 
stands,  etc.” 

In  1775,  Samuel  Prince,  cabinet-maker,  at  the 
Sign  of  the  Chest-of-Drawers,  in  William  Street, 
near  the  North  Church  in  New  York,  made  and  sold 
all  sorts  of  cabinet-work  in  the  neatest  manner  and 
on  the  lowest  terms.  Orders  for  the  West  Indies 
and  elsewhere  were  “ compleated  on  the  shortest  no- 
tice.” He  had  on  hand  for  sale  “a  parcel  of  the 
most  elegant  furniture  made  of  mahogany  of  the 
very  best  quality,  such  as  chest-of-drawers,  chest- 
upon-chest,  cloath-presses,  desks,  desks  and  bookcases 
of  different  sorts,  chairs  of  many  different  and  new 
patterns,  beuro  tables,  dining-tables,  card-tables,  break- 
fast-tables, tea-tables  and  many  other  sorts  of  cabinet 
work  very  cheap.” 

The  two  most  fashionable  upholsterers  were 
George  Richey  and  Joseph  Cox.  The  former  had  a 
shop  in  1759  opposite  the  Merchants’  Coffee  House, 
but  in  1770  he  was  at  The  Sign  of  the  Crown  and 
Tossel  opposite  the  Old  Slip  Pump.  During  these 
years  he  kept  up  with  the  latest  London  fashions  and 
made  beds,  chairs  and  easy-chairs,  couch-beds,  settees, 
sofas,  and  French  chairs.  He  festooned  window- 
curtains  “ according  to  the  latest  style,  as  practised  in 
London,”  and  was  always  receiving  from  abroad  paper- 
hangings  “in  the  newest  taste.”  In  1770,  he  made 
mattresses  fit  for  sea  or  land  and  “ lines  and  tossels  to 
answer  furniture  of  any  colour,  at  the  shortest  notice.” 

82 


Houses  and  Furniture 


Joseph  Cox  was  also  from  London  and  had  The 
Royal  Bed  for  his  sign.  This  hung  out  in  Dock 
Street  and  afterwards  in  Wall  Street.  He  made  ex- 
actly the  same  articles  as  his  rival,  and  in  1771,  put  up 
“all  sorts  of  Tapestry,  Velvet,  Silk  and  paper-hangings 
in  the  neatest  manner.”  He  kept  a fine  assortment 
of  “lines  and  tossels  for  beds  and  window  curtains  of 
different  colours;”  and,  in  1773,  offered  “lines  and 
a few  very  handsome  balance  tossels  for  hall  lan- 
thorns,”  as  well  as  a “large  assortment  of  bed  laces, 
amongst  which  is  some  white  cotton  bed  lace  of  a 
new  manufactory  and  white  fringes  for  ditto.”  In 
this  year  he  advertised  that  he  “ makes  all  sorts  of 
canopy,  festoon,  field  and  tent  beadsteads  and  furni- 
ture ; also  every  sort  of  drapery,  window  curtains, 
likewise  sopha,  settees,  couches,  burgairs,  French 
elbow,  easy  and  corner  chairs  ; back  stools,  mewses, 
ribband  back,  Gothic  and  rail  back  chairs  ; ladies’  and 
gentlemen’s  desk  and  book-cases,  cabinets,  chest-of- 
drawers,  commode  dressing  and  toilet-tables,  writing, 
reading  sideboard,  card  and  night  ditto  ; clothes 
presses  and  chests,  china  shelves,  ecoinures,  fire 
screens,  voiders,  brackets  for  lustres  and  busts,  with 
every  other  article  in  the  business.” 

Two  styles  of  chairs  that  were  fashionable  through- 
out the  period  appear  on  page  81.  These  are  designs 
that  Chippendale  was  fond  of  making,  and  there  is 
every  reason  to  suppose  that  the  New  York  cabinet- 
makers produced  them  in  large  numbers. 

Apart  from  the  efforts  of  the  cabinet-makers  and 
upholsterers,  the  merchants  and  importers  to  supply 
the  New  Yorkers  with  fashionable  furniture  and  other 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

luxuries  and  comforts,  there  was  still  another  means 
by  which  the  homes  of  the  period  could  be  richly 
stocked  with  choice  articles.  Many  opportunities 
were  afforded  by  the  public  vendue,  or  auction. 
Households  broke  up  then  as  suddenly  as  now ; 
death  sometimes  removed  the  head  of  the  family,  but 
more  often  the  British  officers  and  those  in  authority 
were  transferred  to  other  stations  and  preferred  to 
sell  their  household  effects  rather  than  to  carry  them 
home  or  move  them. 

Many  English  residents  who  came  to  America  as 
an  experiment  wearied  of  their  experiences,  and  be- 
fore returning  home  sold  out  the  contents  of  the  house 
that  they  had  taken  such  pains  to  furnish.  When  one 
remembers  the  custom  that  English  people  have  of 
taking  such  a vast  number  of  belongings  into  the 
wilds,  it  will  not  require  much  imagination  to  believe 
that  when  they  came  to  New  York  (a  comparatively 
easy  journey),  they  did  not  hesitate  to  transport  a 
ship-load  of  articles.  Of  course  the  Governor  sur- 
rounded himself  with  every  luxury,  and  at  the  begin- 
ning of  our  period,  upon  the  death  of  Gov.  Mont- 
gomerie, we  find  all  his  goods  offered  for  sale  at  pub- 
lic vendue  at  Fort  George.  It  may  be  interesting  to 
see  what  kind  of  things  he  considered  necessary  to 
his  comfort  and  pleasure,  and  what  handsome  articles 
New  Yorkers  were  able  to  secure  as  early  as  1731. 
The  list  reads  : 

“ A fine  new  yellow  Camblet  Bed  lined  with  silk  and  laced 
which  came  from  London  with  Captain  Downing  with  the  Bed- 
ding. One  fine  Field  Bedstead  and  Curtains.  Some  blew 
Cloth  lately  come  from  London  for  Liveries;  and  some  white 

84 


Houses  and  Furniture 


Drap  cloth  with  proper  Trimming.  Some  broad  Gold  Lace.  A 
very  fine  Medicine  Chest  with  great  variety  of  valuable  Medi- 


cines. A parcel  of  Sweet- 
meat and  Jelly  Glasses. 
A Case  with  Twelve  Knives 
and  Twelve  Forks  with  sil- 
ver handles  guilded.  Some 
good  Barbados  Rum.  A 
considerable  Quantity  of 
Cytorn  Water.  A Flack 
with  fine  Jessamine  Oyl. 
A fine  Jack  with  Chain  and 
Pullies,  etc.  A large  fixt 
Copper  Boyling  Pot.  A 
large  Iron  Fire-place.  Iron 
Bar  and  Doors  for  a Cop- 
per. A large  lined  Fire 
Skreen.  And  several  other 
Things.  All  to  be  seen  at 
the  Fort. 

“ And  also  at  the  same 
Time  and  Place  there  will 
be  sold  One  Gold  Watch 


of  Mr.  Tompkins  make 
and  one  silver  Watch. 
Two  Demi-Peak  Saddles, 
one  with  blew  Cloth  Laced 
with  gold  and  the  other 
Plain  Furniture.  One  Pai 
mounted  with  Silver  and  on( 


Mahogany  table,  owned  by  Mrs. 
Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis.  See 
page  1 1 2. 

of  fine  Pistols.  A fine  Fuzee 
long  Fowling-Piece.” 


Some  time  later  we  read:  “At  New  York  on 
Thursday,  the  ist  of  June,  at  three  o’clock  in  the 
Afternoon  will  begin  to  be  Sold  at  Public  Auction, 
a Collection  of  valuable  Books,  being  the  Library  of 
his  Excellency  John  Montgomerie,  Esq.,  late  Gov- 
ernour  of  New  York,  etc.,  deceased.  A Catalogue  of 

85 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

the  Books  may  be  seen  at  the  Coffee  House  in  New 
York  with  the  Conditions  of  Sale.”  In  August  were 
offered  “ several  fine  Saddle  Horses,  Breeding  Mares 
and  Colts,  Coach- Horses  and  Harness,  and  several 
other  things  belonging  to  the  Estate  of  his  late  Ex- 
cellency Governor  Montgomerie;”  and  on  Monday 
the  2d  of  October  “about  Noon,  at  the  Exchange 
Coffee  House  will  be  exposed  to  Sale  at  Publick 
Vendue,  a large  fine  Barge  with  Awning  and  Damask 
Curtains  ; Two  Sets  of  Oars,  Sails,  and  everything 
that  is  necessary  for  her.  She  now  lies  in  the  Dock 
and  did  belong  to  the  late  Govern  our  Montgomerie.” 
The  negroes,  plate,  and  furniture  of  the  late  Hon. 
Rip  Van  Dam,  Esq.,  offered  for  sale  in  1749,  show 
that  the  choice  goods  of  another  governor  were  scat- 
tered among  New  York  houses,  while  in  1754  at 
public  vendue  at  the  Fort  were  sold  “ sundry  goods 
and  effects  belonging  to  Sir  Danvers  Osborne,  Bart.,” 
— the  ill-fated  governor  who  committed  suicide  soon 
after  his  arrival.  These  included  “ beds,  bedding, 
household  furniture,  kitchen  furniture,  pewter,  turn- 
ery, china-ware,  a coach  and  harness,  linen,  two  gold 
watches,  some  old  hock,  etc.,  etc.” 

The  furniture,  plate,  coaches  and  horses  belonging 
to  the  Rt.  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Loudoun,  also  sold  at 
auction  at  Fort  George  in  1758,  gave  the  residents 
another  opportunity  of  securing  valuable  possessions. 
Captain  George  Douglas,  Captain  Thomas  Seymour, 
Sir  Charles  Hardy,  Captain  Plenderleath,  Captain 
Benjamin  Davies,  and  the  Hon.  Major  Carey  are 
among  those  who  sold  out  their  household  goods 
when  they  were  transferred  to  other  stations,  or  were 

86 


Houses  and  Furniture 


about  to  return  to  England.  In  addition  to  his  ma- 
hogany furniture,  Captain  Benjamin  Davies  offered 
for  sale  in  1775,  “a  fine  chamber  organ  and  a spinet.” 

Sometimes  there  were  sales  of  objects  of  art.  For 
example,  in  1771,  the  following  pictures  : 

“ A large  kitchen  with  dead  game,  Snyders  ; Its  companion, 
do.,  A storm,  capital,  Backhousen  ; A Calm,  Wright ; A conver- 
sation, Hemskirk ; Its  companion  ; A Landskip,  Flemish ; A 
View  in  Flanders,  Brughel ; Its  companion;  A Fruit  Piece  with 
a Mackaw,  Vander  Moulen,  together  with  three  pairs  of  most 
elegant  vases  for  ladies  toilet  or  dressing-rooms,  ornamented 
in  the  highest  taste.” 


s ‘ Thomas  Burling,  cabinet-maker.”  (1774..) 


87 


IV 


WALLS,  PICTURES  AND  LOOKING-GLASSES 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  the 
walls  of  houses  were  usually  panelled,  painted  or 
whitewashed.  In  the  homes  of  the  rich,  tapestry  and 
gilt  leather  hangings  were  found.  When  Kalm  visited 
New  York  in  1748,  he  noticed  that  the  rooms  were 
wainscotted  ; that  the  woodwork  was  generally  painted 
a bluish  grey  ; and  that  the  people  seemed  to  be 
slightly  acquainted  with  hangings.  Two  years  later, 
wall-paper  was  imported  in  such  quantities  that  we 
may  feel  safe  in  assuming  it  was  as  generally  em- 
ployed here  as  in  England.  In  1749,  Isaac  Ware 
noted  that  “ Paper  has  in  a great  measure  taken  the 
place  of  sculpture.”  Furthermore,  he  says:  “The 
decoration  of  the  inside  of  rooms  may  be  reduced  to 
three  kinds  : first,  those  in  which  the  wall  itself  is 
properly  finished,  for  elegance,  that  is  where  the  ma- 
terials of  its  last  covering  are  of  the  finest  kind,  and 
is  wrought  into  ornaments,  plain  or  uncovered  ; sec- 
ondly, where  the  walls  are  covered  with  wainscot  ; 
and  thirdly,  where  they  are  hung ; this  last  article 
comprehending  paper,  silk,  tapestry  and  every  other 
decoration  of  this  kind.” 

He  might  just  as  well  have  written  this  after  an 
examination  of  interiors  in  New  York.  In  the  mid- 
dle of  the  century,  these  three  forms  of  finishing- 

88 


Houses  and  Furniture 


walls  were  found,  but  the  latter  was  growing  in  pop- 
ularity. In  1749,  Stephen  Callow  “ hangs  Rooms  with 
Paper  or  Stuff  in  the  newest  Fashion  James  Huth- 
waite  also  “ hangs  Rooms  with  Paper  and  other 
Things,”  in  1750;  and, 
in  1756,  John  Hickey 
“ stamps  or  prints  paper 
in  the  English  manner 
and  hangs  it  so  as  to 
harbour  no  worms.” 

Among  the  varieties 
of  paper  that  are  im- 
ported, we  find  stained 
paper  for  hangings,  1 750  ; 
flowered  paper,  1751; 
stamped  paper  for  living- 
rooms,  1754;  stucco  pa- 
per for  ceilings,  1 760  ; 
gilt  leather,  1 760  ; and 
gilt  paper  hangings,  1765. 

There  was  also  a paper 
with  landscape  views,  and 
paper  composed  of  pic- 
tures of  the  Seasons,  or 
shepherdesses,  or  emble- 
matical figures,  framed  in  the  rococo  style  of  Louis 
XV.  Another  style,  towards  the  end  of  our  period, 
was  drawn  from  the  Classic  ornamentation  that  the 
Adam  brothers  had  made  fashionable  in  England.  A 
specimen  of  the  latter  appears  on  this  page. 

Generally  speaking,  walls  were  hung  with  pictures 
painted  on  glass,  mezzotints,  and  engravings.  Occa- 

89 


Wall-paper  from  an  old  house  in 
Cazenovia  ; in  the  Museum  for 
the  Art  of  Decoration,  Cooper 
Union. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

sionally  portraits  were  found,  and  in  many  of  the 
houses  of  New  York  were  oils  that  to-day  would  be 
priceless.  In  the  inventories,  quite  often,  a “ land- 
skip,”  a sea-piece,  a “small  winter,”  a “break  of 
day,”  a “bunch  of  grapes,”  “a  cobbler,”  “a  plucked 
cock  torn,”  an  “Abraham  and  Hagar,”  a “sea 
strand,”  a “ship,”  “ye  city  of  Amsterdam,”  suggest 
good  Dutch  art,  not  specially  valued  in  that  day,  but 
commanding  fancy  figures  now. 

The  fashionable  pictures  came  from  England.  It 
may  be  worth  while  to  examine  the  importations, 
remembering  that  Duyckinck,  Rivington  and  Garret 
Noel  and  Company,  were  the  chief  dealers.  The 
Success  brought  pictures  on  glass  with  gilt  frames,  in 
i 749,  in  which  year,  G.  Duyckinck  had  “ a very  good 
assortment  of  Glass  Pictures,  Paintings  on  Glass, 
Prospective  History  Pieces,  Sea  and  Landskips,  a 
large  assortment  of  large  Entry  and  Stair-case  Pieces 
ready  framed,  Maps  of  the  World  and  in  four  parts, 
London,  all  on  Rollers  ready  for  hanging,  Prints  of 
divers  sorts,  Prints  ready  coloured  for  japanning,  also 
a very  good  assortment  of  Limner’s  and  Japanese 
colours  with  gold  leaf  and  Japanner’s  gold  dust, 
Silver  leaf  and  Silver  dust.” 

The  Neptune  brought  in  pictures  burnt  on  glass 
in  1750;  “ metzotintoes  burnt  on  glass”  in  1 75° ; “a 
large  assortment  of  maps,  metzotinto  and  copper 
plate  prints,”  in  1757;  mezzotints,  Japanned,  pros- 
pect and  common  prints,  and  “pictures  of  India 
birds  and  many  fancies,”  1759.  The  Jupiter  brought 
India  pictures  in  1759;  “pictures  of  the  present  King 
and  Queen,  Mr.  Pitt,  the  Marquis  of  Granby  ; and 

90 


Houses  and  Furniture 


the  never-to-be  forgotten  Gen.  Wolfe,  who  sold  his 
life  dear  to  the  French  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham  at 
Quebec  the  13th  of  September,”  1762.  The  West- 
mor eland  brought  “ portraits  of  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  Dr.  Seckes,  Rev.  Mr.  Sterne,  Lady 
Waldegrave  and  her  child,  Garrick  in  tragedy  and 
comedy,  metsotinto  prints  of  Garrick  and  Mrs.  Cib- 
ber in  Jaffer  and  Belvidera,  six  very  line  prints  of 
Kew  Gardens,”  in  1764. 

John  J.  Roosevelt  imported  from  England  and 
sold  at  his  store  in  Maiden  Lane  in  1772,  “an  elegant 
variety  of  pictures,  one  print  in  particular  (with  a 
very  handsome  frame  of  glass)  of  Regulus  opposing 
the  entreaties  of  the  Roman  Senate,  importuning 
him  not  to  return  to  Carthage.  Price  ^14.  This 
piece,  the  death  of  Gen.  Wolfe  and  several  others 
were  copied  from  the  original  paintings  of  the  cele- 
brated Mr.  West  of  Philadelphia.”  We  also  find 
advertisements  that  are  occasionally  illuminating,  such 
as  one  for  1759,  as  follows: 

“ Lately  published  in  England  and  to  be  sold  by  Garret 
Noel  and  Company,  near  the  Meal  Market,  the  celebrated  Mr. 
Strange’s  very  elegant  Prints,  consisting  of  Le  Retour  du 
Marche,  a Cupid,  a Magdalena,  a Cleopatra,  a Headpiece  from 
the  Painting  of  Guido  Rheni,  a Virgin  Martyr  from  ditto,  Lib- 
erality and  Modesty  from  ditto,  Apollo  Rewarding  Merit  and 
Punishing  Arrogance,  Caesar  putting  away  Pompey,  and 
Charles  Prince  of  Wales,  James  Duke  of  York,  and  Princess 
Mary,  Children  of  Charles  I.st.  These  surprising  Pieces  are 
bound  up  in  Boards  to  preserve  them,  but  may  be  taken  out 
and  put  in  Frames.  Likewise,  the  Heads  of  Illustrious  Per- 
sons of  great  Britain,  on  180  Copper  Plates,  engraved  by  Mr. 
Houbraken  and  Mr.  Virtue,  with  their  Lives  and  Characters  by 
Thomas  Birch,  D.  D.,  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Society.  Done 

91 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

upon  Imperial  Paper  and  Curiously  Bound.  N.  B.  Gentlemen 
of  Taste  that  are  willing  to  purchase  either  of  these  much 
esteemed  curiosities  are  desired  to  apply  in  time,  as  there  are 
but  very  few  Copies  to  dispose  of.” 

Another,  dating  from  i 760,  gives  a good  idea  of 
popular  subjects.  James  Rivington  of  Hanover 
Square,  had  “ just  imported  a very  fine  collection  of 
Pictures  of  various  sorts,  consisting  of  the  Heads  of 
all  the  principal  persons  who  daily  distinguish  them- 
selves by  their  Virtues  at  Home  or  Victories  abroad  ; 
of  very  elegant  Views,  Landscapes,  Maps  and  Charts, 
Horses,  Birds,  Hunting-Pieces,  Prospects  of  Lon- 
don, Amsterdam,  Rotterdam,  Peterborough,  elegant 
Buildings  in  Poland,  Prussia,  the  East  Indies,  Ma- 
drid, Lisbon,  Bristol,  Edinburgh,  Rome,  Palmyra  and 
Athens ; a complete  Sett  of  the  celebrated  Beauties 
of  Hampton  Court,  the  Harlot’s  Progress,  Hemkirk’s 
Humorous  Pictures,  Monamy’s  famous  Sea  Pieces, 
Pictures  for  Watches,  Copies  to  teach  to  Write  the 
Round  Text,  the  large  and  Small  Round  Hands, 
Black  Lines,  Letter  Files,  etc.” 

The  feature  of  the  room  that  struck  Madame 
Knight  most  forcibly,  when  she  visited  New  York  in 
1 707,  was  the  impressive  fireplace  with  its  deep  hearth 
framed  with  tiles.  This  was  generally  about  five  feet 
square,  and  behind  the  fireplace  was  a large  cast-iron 
and  ornamented  back.  Sometimes  they  were  plain, 
but  more  frequently  were  decorated  with,  perhaps, 
the  arms  of  the  owner,  or  figures,  flowers,  or  conven- 
tional device.  In  1751,  we  read:  “Stolen  out  of  a 
house  rebuilding  on  Bever  Street  a small  Iron  Chim- 
ney back  with  the  figure  of  a Parrot  in  a Ring  on  it.” 

92 


China  originally  owned  by  William  Denning  ; now  by  Mrs.  W.  W.  Shippen. 

See  page  127. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Peter  Curtenius  had  “ some  plain  and  figured  chimney 
backs”  in  1769. 

The  mantel-piece  was  frequently  carved,  as  in  the 
accompanying  example  owned  by  the  New  York  His- 
torical Society.  It  came  from  the  Beekman  House. 

Tiles  gave  a very  gay  appearance  to  the  chimney- 
piece.  They  were  almost  always  in  strong  colours 

and  the  pictures  were 
scriptural,  historical, 
or  landscape  views. 
They  were  in  white, 
green,  yellow,  red, 
blue,  or  purple.  Mar- 
ble chimney-pieces 
and  marble  hearths 
were  also  to  be  met 
with,  and  sometimes 
these  were  finished 
with  a brass  border. 
James  Byers,  brass 
founder,  in  South 
Street,  said  in  1 768, 
that  he  could  make 
“ brass  mouldings  to 
cover  the  edges  of 
marble  or  tiled  fire- 
places.” Once  in  a while,  some  one  liked  to  ornament 
his  chimney-piece,  like  his  ceiling,  with  stucco-work, 
which  Mr.  Bernard  Lintot  was  able  to  supply  in 
1 760. 

From  the  above,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  great 
logs  burning  and  crackling  in  their  frame-work  of 

94 


Drawing-room  mantel.  From  the  Beek- 
man house.  Turtle  Bay. 


Houses  and  Furniture 

carving,  gay  tiles  and  brass  andirons  and  fender  con- 
tributed not  a little  to  the  charm  of  rooms. 

Although  the  wood  fire  was  universal  all  through 
the  period,  coals  also  were  used.  “ Very  good  sea-coal  ” 
was  advertised  by  Nicholas  Bayard  as  early  as  1744, 
in  which  year  “the  newly  invented  Pennsylvania  fire- 
places ” were  attracting  some  householders,  and  a little 
before  that  date  Franklin  had  invented  his  famous 
stove;  and  Christopher  Sauer,  his  German  device.  Steel 
hearths  and  stove  grates  came  in  about  1751,  and  in 
1752  Rip  Van  Dam  had  for  sale  “a  large  iron  hearth 
plate  with  brass  feet  and  handles.”  Cast-iron  stoves, 
round  and  square,  were  also  in  use. 

“Dutch  and  English  fashion  stoves  ” and  “brass 
mounted  grates  with  shovel  and  tongs  ” appeared  in 
1767;  and  “elegant  grates,  or  Bath  stoves,  for  burn- 
ing coals”  in  1 768.  Now  that  coals  were  used,  the 
poker  became  a necessary  addition  to  the  equipment 
of  the  hearth.  “A  copper  furnace  and  grate”  was 
advertised  in  1751. 

It  was  not  until  the  middle  of  the  century  that 
carpets  became  general.  The  word  had  long  been 
used  as  a covering  for  tables,  and  even  as  late  as  1771 
we  find  an  advertisement  of  “ bedside  and  table  car- 
pets,” showing  that  it  was  still  associated  with  a piece 
of  furniture.  Painted  canvas  and  haircloth  were  used 
for  a long  time.  The  latter  was  particularly  admired 
for  staircases  and  entries.  It  must  have  been  the 
same  as  that  used  for  upholstering,  since  Bernard 
Lintot  imported  from  London  in  1764  “haircloth 
for  chair  seats  and  staircases.”  Haircloth  for  stairs 
had  been  popular  since  1750.  From  about  1757, 

95 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“rich,  beautiful  Turkey  fashion  carpets,”  as  well  as 
Persian,  Scotch  and  Wilton,  were  imported  in  great 
profusion,  and  in  1771,  Axminster  appeared.  The 
carpet  was  kept  down  on  the  stairs  by  means  of 
brass  rods. 

In  a period  in  which  Chippendale  and  his  school 
flourished,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  chim- 
ney-piece, the  mirror,  the  cornice,  the  bracket,  the 
sconce  and  the  girandole  should 
have  been  of  the  utmost 
importance.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  the  century,  the 
Dutch  style  of  carving 
was  in  vogue  ; and  under 
the  Georges,  the  carving, 
naturally  enough,  con- 
formed to  the  tastes  that 
had  been  formed  by  Grin- 
ling- Gibbons  and  his  school. 

O 

Hence  it  is  safe  to  believe 
that  New  York  had  long  sup- 
ported good  carvers.  During 
the  Georgian  age,  they  flocked 
here  in  great  numbers ; and  we 
find  many  cabinet-makers  who 
were  also  carvers,  like  Chippen- 
dale. One  of  these  was  John 
Brinner.  He  advertised  him- 
self as  a “ Cabinet  and  chair- 
maker  from  London,”  establishing  himself  at  the  Sign 
of  the  Chair,  opposite  Flatten  Barrack  Hill  in  the 
Broad-Way,  his  announcement  reading  : 

96 


Chippendale  mirror  (ma- 
hogany with  gilded  bird), 
owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H. 
Bosworth.  See  page  98. 


Houses  and  Furniture 


“ Every  article  in  the  Cabinet,  Chair-Making,  Carving  and 
Gilding  Business,  is  enacted  on  the  most  reasonable  Terms, 
with  the  Utmost  Neatness  and  Punctuality.  He  carves  all 
sorts  of  Architectural,  Gothic  and  Chinese  Chimney  Pieces, 
Glass  and  Picture  Frames,  Slab  Frames,  Girondels,  Chandeliers, 
and  all  kinds  of  Mouldings  and  Frontispieces,  etc.,  etc.  Desk 
and  Book  Cases,  Library  Book  Cases,  Writing  and  Reading- 
Tables,  Study  Tables,  China  Shelves  and  Cases,  Commode  and 
Plain  Chest  of  Drawers,  Gothic  and  Chinese  Chairs ; all  sorts 
of  plain  or  ornamental  Chairs,  Sofa  Beds,  Sofa  Settees,  Couch 
and  Easy  Chairs,  Frames,  all  kinds  of  Field  Bedsteads.  N.  B. 
He  has  brought  over  from  London  six  Artificers,  well  skill’d  in 
the  above  branches.” 

In  an  age  of  carving  and  gilding,  the  mirror  re- 
ceived its  share  of  attention.  No  one  who  studies 
the  newspapers  carefully  can  fail  to  note  how  impor- 
tant it  was  to  discard  an  old-fashioned  frame,  or  even 
shape,  for  the  newest  style  of  looking-glass  that  Lon- 
don had  adopted.  Towards  the  end  of  i 730,  we  read  : 

“ James  Foddy,  Citizen  and  Glass-seller  of  London,  who 
arrived  here  the  latter  end  of  last  June,  and  brought  with  him 
a parcel  of  very  fine  Looking-glasses  of  all  Sorts,  and  likewise 
appeared  several  times  in  this  Paper,  to  acquaint  the  Publick 
that  he  undertook  to  alter  and  amend  Old  Looking-glasses ; 
but  he  not  meeting  with  suitable  Encouragement,  is  shortly 
destined  for  the  West  Indies.  All  Persons  therefore  who  are 
inclin’d  to  have  their  Glasses  repair’d,  or  buy  new,  may  apply 
to  the  said  James  Foddy  at  Mr.  Verplanck’s  in  New  York.” 

By  1735,  there  were  some  new  styles.  Mr.  Duyck- 
inck  informed  the  public  that  he  had 

“ Looking-glasses  new  silvered  and  the  Frames  plaine 
Japan’d  or  Flowered,  also  all  sorts  of  Picktures  made  and  sold, 
all  manner  of  painting  work  done.  Likewise  Looking-glasses 
and  all  sorts  of  painting  Coullers  and  Oyl  sold  at  reasonable 
Rates  by  Girardus  Duyckinck,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Two  Cupids, 
near  the  Old  Slip  Market. 


97 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“ N.  B.  Where  you  may  have  ready  Money  for  old  Look- 
ing-Glasses.” 

Looking-glasses,  of  course,  included  the  large 
glass  that  so  frequently  ornamented  the  chimney- 
piece,  the  tall  pier-glass  whose  place  was  between  the 
windows,  and  the  concave  and  convex  mirrors  with 
sconces  for  candles  that  were  hung  upon  the  walls. 
Frequently  the  frames  of  these  were  richly  carved 
and  gilded,  and  from  the  candlesticks  hung  glittering 
drops  of  glass,  known  as  girandoles.  Mahogany  and 
black  walnut  were  also  used  for  frames,  and  a ma- 
hogany or  walnut  frame,  brightened  with  gilt  edges 
and  adorned  with  some  carved  and  gilded  ornament, 
was  also  popular.  One  of  the  latter  appears  on  page 
96  ; and  another  on  page  324.  The  former  is  orna- 
mented with  a gilded  bird, — one  of  Chippendale’s 
favourite  designs.  This  belongs  to  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bos- 
worth.  The  second,  now  belonging  to  Mrs.  Wilmot 
Townsend  Cox,  was  originally  owned  by  Rutger 
Bleecker. 

In  1769,  one  Minshall,  carver  and  gilder,  from 
London,  lived  in  Dock  Street,  opposite  Bolton  and 
Sigell’s  Tavern,  where  he  had  “ carved  frames  for 
glasses,  picture  frames,  tables,  chairs,  girondoles, 
chimney  - pieces,  brackets,  candlestands,  clock  and 
watch  cases,  bed  and  window  cornicing.  He  makes 
Paper  ornaments  for  Ceilings  and  Stair-cases  in  the 
present  mode.”  In  the  same  year  Nicholas  Bernard, 
carver,  advertised  : 

“ A neat  assortment  of  Looking-glasses  in  the  most  elegant 
and  newest  Fashions,  with  carved,  and  carved  and  gilt  frames, 
do.  pediments  and  plain  mahogany  and  walnut,  also  Dressing- 

98 


Houses  and  Furniture 


glasses,  Girondelles,  Chimney-Pieces,  Figures  of  Plaster  of 
Paris,  and  Paper  Machine  for  Ceilings;  the  King’s  Coat-of- 
Arms  neatly  carved,  fit  for  Church  or  public  Building.” 

In  1775,  the  above  Minshall,  who  for  some  time 
had  had  a Looking-Glass  Store,  removed  it  from 
Smith  Street  to  Hanover  Square  (opposite  Mr.  Goe- 
let’s  Sign  of  the  Golden  Key),  and  told  his  custom- 
ers that  he  had  “ an  elegant  assortment  of  looking- 
glasses  in  oval  and  square  ornamental  frames.”  He 
also  had  some  in  mahogany  frames  and  “ the  greatest 
variety  of  girandoles  ever  imported  to  this  city.” 
He  had  “an  elegant  assortment  of  frames  without 
glass”  and  “any  Lady  or  Gentleman  that  have  glass 
in  old-fashioned  frames  may  have  them  cut  to  ovals, 
or  put  in  any  pattern  that  pleases  them  best.”  The 
frames  could  be  finished  “white,  or  green  and  white, 
purple,  or  any  other  colour  that  suits  the  furniture  of 
the  room,  or  gilt  in  oil  or  burnished  gold  equal  to 
the  best  imported.”  An  Apprentice  was  wanted  “to 
learn  the  above  art  of  Carving  and  Gilding ; none 
need  apply  but  those  who  have  a lad  of  sober  and 
promising  genius  and  are  willing  to  give  a premium.” 

The  following  partial  list  of  importations  may  be 
of  interest  to  illustrate  the  large  general  demand  for 
mirrors  : Gilt  and  plain  looking-glasses  and  sconces 
of  sundry  sizes,  in  1745;  “a  parcel  of  very  fine 
large  and  small  looking -glasses,”  1747;  japanned 
dressing-glasses,  1 748  ; new  fashion  sconces  and  look- 
ing-glasses, 1 749  ; looking-glass  sconces,  1 750  ; gilt 
and  plain  looking-glasses  of  sundry  sizes,  1751;  a 
choice  assortment  of  very  handsome  looking-glasses, 
sconces  and  pier  glasses  of  all  sizes,  1752;  a neat 

99 


Iron  tea  tray  decorated  with  oil  painting  in  imitation  of  Joseph  Vernet  ; in  the  Museum  for  the 
Art  of  Decoration,  Cooper  Union.  Seepage  113. 


Houses  and  Furniture 


assortment  of  sconces  gilt  and  carved  in  the  newest 
fashions,  1753  ; ladies  fine  dressing  gilt  looking-glasses 
and  small  pocket  ditto,  1755;  “peer”  and  sconce 
looking-glasses,  1757;  newest  fashioned  looking- 
glasses  from  London,  175  7 ; a variety  of  sconces  with 
branches  in  walnut  frames  with  gilt  edges,  1 75  7 ; neat 
dressing-glasses  for  ladies  with  gilt  frames,  1757;  a 
raree-show  of  looking-glasses,  1758  ; a few  handsome 
sconces,  1758;  looking-glasses,  pier  and  sconce,  plain 
and  gilt  frames,  1758;  camp  looking-glasses,  1759; 
walnut  framed  looking-glasses,  1759;  a good  assort- 
ment of  small  black  walnut  frame  and  japanned  look- 
ing-glasses, 1758;  a large  and  neat  assortment  of 
dressing-sconces  and  looking-glasses,  1759;  a very 
fine  assortment  of  looking-glasses  and  sconces,  their 
frames  in  the  most  genteel  and  richest  taste,  1760;  a 
quantity  of  Indian  and  Guinea  looking-glasses,  1761  ; 
French  pocket  looking-glasses,  1761  ; looking-glasses 
framed  in  the  newest  taste  £$>  to  ^30  a piece,  1761  ; 
a new  and  large  assortment  of  looking-glasses,  sconces 
and  dressing-glasses,  1761  ; looking-glasses  from  2 to 
6 feet,  1764;  “the  largest  and  most  curious  collection 
of  plain  and  ornamented  looking-glasses  and  pictures 
ever  imported  to  America,”  1764;  convex  and  con- 
cave mirrors,  1 764  ; two  carved  white-framed  sconce 
glasses,  1 764  ; handsome  pier  glass  and  two  sconces 
with  gilt  frame,  1 768  ; large  pier  glass  in  an  elegant 
carved  frame,  1769;  looking-glasses  from  2 shillings 
to  ^10,  1771;  painted  frame  looking-glasses,  1773; 
oval  sconces  with  gilt  frames,  1773;  oval  glasses, 
pier  glasses  and  sconces  in  burnished  gold,  glass 
bordered,  mahogany  and  black  walnut  frames  with 

101 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

gilt  ornaments  of  all  sizes,  likewise  elegant  giran- 
doles, 1774. 

People  prized  these  articles  very  highly,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  following  advertisement  in  1775  : 

“Stolen  in  the  night  of  the  5th  inst.  out  of  the  house  of 
Robert  Murray,  at  Inklinbergh,  a Looking-Glass,  three  feet 
and  a half  long  and  twenty  inches  broad,  set  in  a mahogany 
frame  with  a narrow  gilt  edge.  Whoever  brings  the  said  glass 
to  the  owner,  shall  have  Forty  Shillings  as  a reward  : and  if 
the  thief  be  taken  and  convicted,  a further  sum  of  Eight 
Pounds  by  Robert  Murray.” 

A square  or  round  lantern  always  hung  in  the 
hall  or  entry,  and  sometimes  a second  one  was  re- 
peated at  the  landing.  There  were  also  glass  lamps 
and  chamber  lamps,  and  lamps  for  sick  persons. 


The  King’s  Arms.  (1767.) 


102 


BEDS,  CHAIRS,  TABLES  AND  CLOCKS 


The  bed  was,  of  course,  the  most  important  piece 
of  furniture  in  the  bedroom.  Almost  invariably,  it 
was  a tall  and  wide  four-poster  of  mahogany,  more 
or  less  richly  carved.  But  the  framework,  handsome 
as  it  might  be,  and  even  if  crowned  by  a carved 
tester,  was  comparatively  unimportant  when  the 
furnishings  are  remembered.  A large  feather  bed, 
weighing  many  pounds  and  stuffed  with  the  softest 
feathers,  rested  upon  a simple  arrangement  of  bed- 
cords,  or  a “sacking-bottom,” — a kind  of  heavy  sail- 
cloth from  which  the  word  “ bed-bunt  ” was  probably 
derived.  “ Bed-bunts”  were  imported  and  were  usu- 
ally 6 X 4 ft-  and  9X4  ft.,  which  shows  the  average 
size  of  the  bed. 

The  sheeting  usually  came  from  Holland,  and  was 
known  as  “ ozenbrigs  ; ” the  blankets  were  “ striped,” 
“rose,”  or  “swanskin  ;”  and  the  spreads,  or  “sprees,” 
early  in  the  century  were  “ white  cotton  bed  carpets,” 
but  they  were  supplanted  later  by  “white  flowered 
counterpains.”  Marseilles  quilts  came  in  about  1772. 
India  chintz  counterpanes  were  also  used  in  1768,  and 
scarlet,  blue,  flowered,  and  black  figured  “ drawboys  ” 
in  1771.  A silk  quilt,  or  a Turkey  quilt,  was  usually 
folded  neatly  and  laid  across  the  foot  of  the  bed. 
The  bolster  and  pillows,  stuffed  with  softest  feathers, 

103 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


were  encased  in  white  linen,  and  everything  about 
the  bed  invited  repose. 

The  true  glory  of  the  bed,  however,  was  its  hang- 
ings. Not  infrequently,  they  were  very  luxurious  in 


Chair  and  double  corner-chair  ; in  the  Museum  of  the  New  York 
Colonial  Dames.  See  page  109. 

texture  and  rich  in  colour.  A “yellow  silk  damask 
bed,”  a “yellow  camlet  laced,”  a “crimson  harra- 
teen,”  a “green  russell,”  a “crimson  moreen,”  a 
“flowered  russell,”  a “ blue  and  green  flowered  rus- 
sell,” or  “a  green  silk  and  worsted  damask,”  was 
generally  to  be  met  with  in  the  richest  homes.  Some- 

104 


Houses  and  Furniture 


times  the  curtains  were  altogether  of  silk  damask ; 
sometimes,  of  worsted  damask  lined  with  silk ; some- 
times a mixture  of  each  ; and  sometimes  of  purely 
woollen  goods. 

Occasionally,  these  curtains  were  ornamented  with 
“ silk  bed  lace,”  or  fringe,  or  gimp,  or  “ snail  trim- 
ming,” a kind  of  braid  arranged  in  symmetrical 
rolled-up  patterns,  that  was  exceedingly  popular  with 
the  upholsterers  of  the  day,  who  were  called  upon  to 
arrange  the  festoons  and  rosettes,  lines  and  tassels, 
according  to  the  latest  advices  from  London.  The 
curtains  at  the  windows  always  matched  the  bed-hang- 
ings, and  gave  the  room  its  designation  of  “ the 
yellow  room,”  “the  blue  room,”  “the  red  room,” 
or  “the  green  room.”  In  summer,  these  rich  hang- 
ings were  removed,  and  the  beds  were  draped  in 
white,  or  supplied  with  mosquito  netting,  or  “catgut 
gauze.” 

In  some  of  the  rooms,  the  beds  were  simpler,  such 
as,  for  example,  the  one  seen  in  the  illustration  on 
page  23,  showing  an  excellent  bedroom  of  the 
period,  from  the  Museum  of  the  New  York  Colonial 
Dames  at  Van  Cortlandt.  The  simpler  bedsteads 
were  of  maple  or  walnut,  instead  of  mahogany,  and 
perhaps,  indeed,  of  pine  or  white-wood,  stained  or 
painted.  These  were  hung  with  coloured  calico  cur- 
tains, like  the  one  referred  to,  bright-hued  or  flowered 
chintz,  or  figured  dimity.  Ships  were  constantly 
bringing  over  such  varieties  of  attractive  English  and 
India  chintzes,  and  calicoes  of  such  multitudinous 
colours  and  patterns,  with  “ lines  and  tossels  to 
match,”  that  we  can  readily  believe  the  bedrooms 

105 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

were  anything  but  monotonous  in  colour  and  effect, 
even  if  the  same  arrangement  of  furniture  was  to  be 
found  in  every  home. 

About  1770,  a new  style  of  bed  and  window  cur- 
tain was  introduced  from  England, — “ copper  plate 
and  pencilled  furniture  ” in  red  and  white,  blue  and 
white,  purple  and  white,  green  and  white,  etc.,  etc., 
so  called  from  the  pictures  that  were  printed  upon  it, 
very  similar  to  those  upon  the  “ pencilled  china”  that 
came  into  vogue  about  the  same  time.  About  1761, 
mattresses  stuffed  with  hair  were  offered  for  sale,  but 
these  did  not,  by  any  means,  supplant  in  favour  the 
feather  bed  and  “ sacking-bottom.” 

By  the  side,  or  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  stood  the 
bed-steps.  At  the  other  side,  a small  table  with  a 
candlestick  was  always  to  be  found  in  a comfortable 
bedroom.  In  the  early  part  of  the  century,  a strip  of 
carpet,  called  “ a bedside  carpet,”  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  carpet  upon  the  bed  (for  the  word  carpet 
had  not  lost  its  first  meaning),  was  placed  beside  the 
bed,  but  as  the  years  advanced,  rugs  were  more 
plentiful  and  a carpet  frequently  covered  the  entire 
floor.  The  bed  was  often  covered  with  a spread,  and 
the  dressing-table  with  a “ toilet  ” made  by  the  ladies 
of  the  house. 

The  bedstead  generally  stood  opposite  the  open 
fireplace,  where  the  logs  burned  brightly  upon  brass 
andirons,  guarded  by  a fender  and  supplied  with 
shovel,  tongs  and  bellows.  A mahogany  case-of- 
drawers  standing  upon  its  high  cabriole  legs  and  gar- 
nished with  brass  escutcheons  and  handles,  and  a 
small  case-of-drawers,  also  bright  with  brass  mounts, 

106 


Houses  and  Furniture 


were  conspicuous  objects.  Above  the  latter  hung  a 
dressing-glass.  Perhaps  there  was  also  a large  chest- 
upon-chest  of  drawers,  or  an  old  mahogany  kas,  or 
wardrobe,  a “ bureau  table,”  a wash-stand,  and  almost 
always  two  or  three  small  tables,  upon  one  of  which 
a set  of  tea-things  stood  ready  for  use.  Sometimes 
were  to  be  seen  a “ couch  and  squab  ” and  a “ lolling- 
chair”  for  further  comfort,  and  very  often  a “ scru- 
tore,”  or  large  secretary. 

The  room  was  profusely  ornamented  with  china. 
China  vases  and  curious  images  decorated  the  chim- 
ney-piece and  appeared  on  the  top  of  the  chest-upon- 
chest,  or  the  tall  case-of-drawers,  provided  the  latter 
was  not  finished  with  the  favourite  scroll  or  “ swan- 
neck  ” sweeps.  Even  then,  in  the  centre  from  which 
they  sprang,  a small  china  vase,  or  other  ornament  was 
placed.  A screen  and  a number  of  chairs  completed 
the  furniture.  The  latter  might  consist  of  a set  of 
mahogany,  including  two  arm-chairs,  the  seats  match- 
ing the  bed  and  window  curtains,  or  they  might  be  of 
cheaper  wood  with  plain  splat  backs  and  rush  seats, 
ordinary  walnut  frame  and  leather-bottom  chairs,  or 
of  the  cabriole  leg  with  ball-and-claw  foot  and  em- 
bowed  back,  the  seat  being  of  Turkey-work,  worsted 
damask,  or  hair.  Again,  the  chairs  might  have  cane, 
or  matted  seats. 

Next  in  importance  to  the  bed  in  the  up-stairs 
apartments  were  the  high  and  low  cases-of-drawers, 
popularly,  but  erroneously  known  to-day  as  the  “ high 
boy”  and  “low  boy.”  These  consisted  of  a series  of 
drawers  that  stood  on  a frame  composed  of  spindle- 
shaped  legs  connected  by  a straining-rail  or  stretcher, 

107 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


as  shown  in  the  example  from  the  Museum  of  the 
New  York  Colonial  Dames  on  page  57,  or  standing 
on  the  springing  cabriole  leg  ending  in  the  plain  hoof, 
or  the  more  ornate  claw-and-ball  foot.  The  former 
kind  that  stood  on 
a frame  of  six 
legs  generally 
had  a square 
top ; the  latter 
variety  frequent- 
ly terminated  in 
a scroll  top.  In 
addition  to  these 
pieces  of  furni- 
ture, there  was 
the  chest-of- 
drawers  and  the 
chest-upon-chest, 
of  which  an  ex- 
ample in  French 
walnut  is  here  rep- 
resented. This  be- 
longed to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Augustus  Van 
Horne  (the  latter  a 
daughter  of  Frederick 
Van  Cortlandt  and 
Frances  Jay),  married 

in  1765.  It  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mat- 
thew Clarkson  of  New  York,  having  descended  to 
them  through  the  Jay  family.  The  brass  escutcheons 
and  handles  on  these  pieces  of  furniture  were  impor- 

108 


Chest-upon-chest,  originally  owned 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Augustus  Van 
Horne  ; now  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Matthew  Clarkson. 


Houses  and  Furniture 

tant  additions,  and  varied  from  simple  drop-handles  to 
patterns  that  were  quite  elaborate. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  century,  the  chairs  were  of 
leather  (one  variety  of  which  is  shown  on  page  54), 
cane,  and  matted.  The  latter  was  popular  about 
1 700,  and  was  often  of  the  kind  represented  on  the 
same  page.  We  also  find  in  the  early  homes  elbow 
chairs  and  easy  chairs  covered  with  red  plush,  or  silk, 
or  damask.  About  1725,  and  onward,  the  walnut  or 
mahogany  chair  with  the  claw-and-ball  foot,  was  con- 
stantly used.  This  chair  invariably  came  in  sets,  in- 
cluding two  chairs  with  arms.  The  covers  of  the 
seats  were  of  red  leather,  Turkey -work,  silk,  silk  or 
worsted  damask,  the  favourite  colours  being  red, 
green  and  yellow.  Types  of  these  chairs  appear  on 
page  71. 

In  1760,  haircloth  for  chair-seating  was  imported. 
It  continued  long  in  fashion.  Sometimes  it  was  fig- 
ured, and  sometimes  coloured.  In  1765,  Joseph  Cox 
advertised  “ a variety  of  beautiful  black  horsehair  for 
chair  bottoms,  such  as  are  in  the  greatest  vogue  at 
home”  (home  being  London);  in  1771,  “figured 
horsehair  for  chair  bottoms;”  and  in  1772,  “patterns 
of  horsehair  for  chair  bottoms.” 

Figured  calico,  chintz  and  copper-plate  materials 
were  used  for  furniture  coverings  and  draperies  to- 
wards the  end  of  our  period,  especially  in  bedrooms. 

With  sets  of  chairs,  the  double  chair,  or  settee, 
was  often  included.  This  was  formed  of  two  chair 
backs  placed  side  by  side  and  carved  or  perforated  to 
match  the  single  chairs.  The  “corner  chair”  that 
Joseph  Cox  made  in  1773  was  of  the  variety  shown 

109 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

on  page  104.  This  one  is  ornamented  with  a double 
back.  The  stuffed  chair  was  often  in  use.  Some- 
times it  was  referred  to  as  the  “ French  ” chair.  The 
“ burgair  ” chair,  also  in  Cox’s  list,  was  an  upholstered 
chair  of  special  design. 

The  stuffed  sofa  gained  in  popularity.  It  was 
frequently  draped  in  the  most  elaborate  style  with 
festoons  caught  in  waves  and  swags,  and  fastened  at 
regular  intervals  by  a rosette.  Sometimes  it  had  a 
canopy  carved  in  the  Gothic  or  Chinese  taste,  and 
sometimes  it  was  made  to  fit  into  an  alcove  and  be- 
come a kind  of  couch-bed  with  curtains  that  were 
drawn  into  their  symmetrical  position  by  means  of 
cords  and  tassels  that  connected  with  pullies.  Chip- 
pendale was  especially  fond  of  fringe,  cords  and  tassels 
for  his  sofas  and  beds,  and  for  his  ornate  pieces  recom- 
mends gold  cords  and  tassels. 

Before  the  middle  of  the  century,  the  Windsor 
chair  had  become  popular.  An  example  is  shown  to 
the  left  of  the  bed,  in  the  room  on  page  23.  The 
Windsor  chair  was  of  various  kinds  and  was  painted  in 
different  colours.  Many  chair-makers  devoted  their 
energies  solely  to  this  kind  of  chair.  The  following 
advertisement  of  1 769  gives  an  idea  of  the  industry  : 

“A  large  and  neat  Assortment  of  Windsor  Chairs  made  in 
the  best  and  neatest  manner,  and  well-painted,  viz.,  High- 
back’d,  low  back’d,  and  Sack  backed  Chairs  and  Settees  or 
double  seated  fit  for  Piazza  or  Gardens,  Children’s  Dining  and 
low  chairs,  etc.  To  be  sold  by  Jonathan  Hampton  in  Chapel 
Street,  New  York,  opposite  Captain  Andrew  Law’s.” 

The  “scrutore,”  escritoire , or  secretary,  was  found 
in  both  drawing-room  and  bedroom.  It  was  often  a 


1 10 


Houses  and  Furniture 

combination  bookcase  and  desk,  the  upper  portion 
being  enclosed  by  doors  with  panes  of  glass.  Two 
specimens  appear  on  pages  291  and  10.  The  former 
is  said  to  have  come  from  Holland,  but  it  is  similar 
in  character  to  many  that  Chippendale  included  among 
his  designs.  This  belonged  originally  to  Ryck  Suy- 
dam  (1675-1741)  supervisor  of  Flatbush,  L.  I.  and  is 
now  owned  by  his  descendant,  Mrs.  Henry  Draper  of 
New  York.  The  second  is  also  of  mahogany  and  is 
of  the  “ Gothic  Style  ” of  the  day.  This  belonged  to 
Thomas  Barrow,  and  was  brought  by  him  to  New 
York  in  1764.  It  is  now  owned  by  a descendant. 
Another  form  of  desk  was  a simple  chest-of-drawers 
with  a flap  which,  when  let  down,  formed  the  table 
for  writing. 

In  every  home  was  a number  of  tables ; in 
many  cases,  the  rooms  contained  several  devoted  to 
different  uses.  The  dining-table  was  of  mahogany. 
The  oak  drawing-table  had  long  been  out  of  fashion, 
and  the  extension  table  with  its  additional  leaves  had 
not  yet  been  introduced,  so  that  when  more  room  was 
desired,  tables  were  added  to  the  central  one.  These 
tables  all  had  drop  leaves  supported  upon  a movable 
leg.  A good  specimen  is  illustrated  on  page  75. 
The  straight  leg  ends  in  a ball-and-claw  foot.  This 
now  belongs  to  Mrs.  W.  Sherwood  Popham  of  New 
York.  Nearly  every  house  had  its  card-tables  which 
were  usually  of  walnut  or  mahogany,  like  the  specimen 
shown  on  page  326,  or  of  an  older  design  with  cabri- 
ole leg  and  ball-and-claw  foot.  The  tea-table  was  of 
the  utmost  importance  : it  was  of  mahogany,  painted, 
or  japanned,  or  of  walnut.  Almost  invariably,  it  re- 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

volved  and  could  be  made  to  tip  as  well  as  turn,  and 
sometimes,  when  not  in  use,  stood  in  the  room  in  the 
position  of  the  one  shown  on  page  85.  Of  the  three 
varieties  of  tea-tables,  the  one  on  page  312  was  the 
older  in  design,  as  the  “ snake-foot  ” proclaims,  The 
one  on  page  114  is  more  delicate  in  form  and  not 
only  has  the  ball-and-claw  foot  but  the  acanthus  carved 
upon  the  tripod  legs.  The  third  on  page  85,  is  a 
more  elaborate  specimen  and  its  large  top  is  cut  out 
of  a solid  piece  of  wood.  The  first  belongs  to  the 
Barrow  family  ; the  second,  to  Mrs.  W.  W.  Shippen 
of  New  York;  the  third,  was  originally  owned  by 
Col.  and  Mrs.  John  Cox  of  Bloomsbury,  Trenton, 
but  now  belongs  to  Mrs.  Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis 
of  Hoboken,  N.  J. 

A small  mahogany  stand,  or  table,  was  usually 
placed  by  the  side  of  the  bed,  as  shown  on  page  23. 
Previous  to  the  advent  of  Heppelwhite,  the  sideboard 
in  the  dining-room  was  a long  table  with  square  ends. 
Chippendale,  in  his  book  of  designs,  does  not  give  a 
single  example  of  the  sideboard  as  we  know  it  to-day, 
nor  is  such  a piece  of  furniture  found  among  the 
plates  of  Darly,  or  Ince  and  Mayhew.  The  “side- 
board table  ” that  Chippendale  recommends  often  has 
its  framework  richly  carved  in  Gothic,  or  Chinese 
style.  Therefore,  when  we  are  told  that  so  many 
tables  were  in  the  dining-room,  we  are  not  wrong  if 
we  call  one  of  them  “a  sideboard  table.” 

The  tea-table  was  present  in  every  room.  The 
number  of  articles  used  in  the  service  of  tea  was 
considerable.  Mahogany  tea-boards  (little  tables), 
tea-chests,  cannisters,  lamps,  kettles  and  nests  of  ket- 

1 12 


Houses  and  Furniture 


ties,  kettles  with  lamps,  tea -tongs,  sugar  - cleavers, 
sugar-tongs,  spoons,  urns,  tea-trays,  etc.,  etc.,  of  all 
varieties  appear  again  and  again.  The  tea-kettle  stand 
was  also  important,  and  the  tea-tray  was  of  many  kinds 
and  sizes.  It  was  frequently  of  mahogany  with  a 
carved  rim  in  the  Chinese  or  Gothic  taste  ; but  hardly 
less  popular  was  the  tray  that  was  painted  and  ja- 
panned. We  give  two  of  these  : the  one  on  page  321 
dates  from  the  beginning  of  our  period  ; the  second, 
on  page  too,  from  towards  the  end.  Like  the  painted 
and  japanned  tea-table,  it  was  always  a favourite. 
The  former  is  said  to  have  been  brought  to  America 
in  1686.  It  is  now  in  the  Museum  of  the  Colonial 
Dames  at  Van  Cortlandt.  The  picture  upon  it  is  a 
landscape.  The  second,  is  a more  beautiful  example 
and  is  decorated  with  a charming  oil  painting  after 
Joseph  Vernet.  It  is  now  in  the  Museum  for  the 
Art  of  Decoration  at  the  Cooper  Union,  New  York. 
Tea-trays  and  waiters  “of  the  newest  fashion  with 
landscapes”  were  still  coming  in  in  1781. 

Japanned-ware  was  popular  throughout  the  Eight- 
eenth Century.  It  was  not  only  used  for  tea-trays, 
tea  - kitchens,  tea-tables,  cannisters,  sugar-boxes,  and 
knife-cases,  but  for  dressing-tables,  clock-cases,  chairs 
and  every  other  style  of  furniture.  As  early  as  1 734, 
we  find  “ eight-day  clocks  with  japan  cases  ” offered 
for  sale  by  John  Bell,  and,  as  late  as  1771,  Stephen 
Gueubel  of  Wall  Street  announced  to  the  “nobility 
and  gentry  ” that  he  had  “ just  arrived  in  this  city  ” 
and  had  for  sale  “a  quantity  of  beautiful  furniture 
elegantly  painted  and  varnished  in  the  Japan  taste  ” 
and  had  “some  complete  toilets.”  He  also  under- 

1 13 


9 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


took  to  “ paint  coaches  and  chairs  in  the  same 
manner.” 

In  1772,  Jane  Wilson  in  the  Fly  Market  offered  a 
“great  variety  of  beautiful  japanned  goods  with  cream 


Walnut  chair  and  mahogany  tea-table,  owned  by  Mrs.  W.  W.  Shippen. 

See  page  1 1 2. 

coloured  grounds  and  other  colours  of  the  newest 
taste.”  Her  wares  included  tea-tables,  tea-chests  with 
cannisters,  tea-trays,  bread-baskets  and  inkstands  ; and 
she  also  had  “ some  white  japanned  clock-faces,  which 
have  the  appearance  of  enamelled  watch-plates.”  Al- 

1 14 


Houses  and  Furniture 


though  there  were  many  watch  and  clock-makers  in 
New  York,  the  ships  constantly  brought  clocks  and 
clock-cases  to  New  York.  The  tall  clock  with  its 
brass  dial,  frequently  embellished  with  the  changes 
of  the  moon,  and  occasionally  equipped  with  ma- 
chinery for  telling  the  tides,  was  the  favourite. 
Bracket  and  pedestal  clocks  were  also  in  use  ; and 
many  clocks  were  furnished  with  musical  chimes. 

Nearly  every  household  owned  a tall  clock,  and 
in  many  houses  the  enormous  clothes-press  known  as 
the  Kas  was  frequently  found.  This,  of  course,  was 
of  Dutch  origin  and  corresponded  to  the  more  mod- 
ern wardrobe.  Another  piece  of  furniture  that  the 
English  found  when  they  arrived  was  the  cabinet  in 
which  the  citizens  of  New  Amsterdam  kept  their 
choicest  china  and  other  curios. 


“ Thomas  Ash,  Windsor  chair-maker.”  (1774.) 


■ 


PART  III 


TABLE  FURNISHINGS 


PART  III 


TABLE  FURNISHINGS 


I 

CHINA,  USEFUL  AND  ORNAMENTAL 

Occasionally,  one  hears  it  said  that  there  was 
little  or  no  china  in  New  York  before  the  Revolu- 
tion ; but  whoever  will  pause  to  think  for  a moment 
will  know  that  this  could  not  be  true.  The  Dutch, 
as  is  well  known,  were  among  the  very  first  collectors 
of  china  in  Europe.  It  is  not  likely  that  the  Dutch 
ships  constantly  arriving  in  New  Amsterdam  should 
fail  to  import  wares  of  this  nature.  Indeed,  china 
and  porcelain  were  to  be  found  in  Dutch  homes  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  in  great  quantity,  before  the 
English  satirists  attacked  the  china-mania. 

The  home  of  Cornells  Steen wyck,  who  died  in 
1686,  was  profusely  decorated  with  china.  In  one 
room  alone — the  Great  Chamber — there  were  no  less 
than  “ nineteen  porcelain  dishes,”  besides  two  flow- 
ered earthen  pots.  Margarita  Van  Varick  was  an- 
other person  who  possessed  a vast  amount  of  china. 
She  had  three  East  India  cups  and  three  East  India 
dishes,  three  “ cheenie  pots,”  “one  cheenie  cup  bound 
with  silver,”  “ two  glassen  cases  with  thirty-nine  pieces 
of  small  chinaware,”  and  eleven  “ Indian  babyes.” 

1 19 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Besides  this,  there  were  126  pieces  of  chinaware,  con- 
sisting of  cups,  saucers,  tea-cups,  dishes,  basons,  jugs, 
flower-pots,  toys  and  images. 

Mr.  Jacob  De  Lange,  who  died  in  1685,  had  a 
magnificent  collection  that  would  be  priceless  to-day. 
It  included  164  separate  pieces. 

Francis  Rombouts  (1692),  had  one  Holland  cup- 
board furnished  with  porcelain  and  earthenware,  worth 
£15  ; and  another,  valued  at  £ 5- 1 3-0. 

Cornelis  Jacobs  (1700),  owned  a china  lacquered 
bowl  and  a parcel  of  chinaware  and  earthenware, 
twelve  new  plates  and  nine  earthen  dishes.  Abraham 


Group  of  ornamental  earthenware,  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth. 

See  page  127. 


DeLanoy  (1702),  had  120  dishes,  cups  and  saucers; 
Colonel  William  Smith  of  St.  Georges  (1705),  had 
chinaware  worth  £5;  Joseph  Nunes  (1705),  had 
“one  small  Delph  plate”  , Joseph  Bueno  (1709),  had 
an  earthen  woman  and  a dog ; seven  china  cups ; 
twelve  cups  and  saucers  ; and  five  images  in  glasses. 

120 


Table  Furnishings 

Capt.  Giles  Shelly  (1718)  owned  much  china,  in- 
cluding a punch -bowl,  “six  chaney  lions,”  eleven 
images,  three  “ chaney  basons,”  a red  tea-pot,  a sugar- 
box,  an  image  and  much  earthenware  ; George  Dun- 
can (1724)  possessed  much  earthenware  and  china, 
among  which  were  seven  images  and  a box  with 
images  ; Governor  Burnet’s  china  and  glass  amounted 
to  ^130-16-0  ; and  Governor  Montgomerie  had  a set 
of  china  valued  at  ^75. 

The  people  of  this  period  valued  their  china 
highly.  They  kept  it  in  cabinets  and  cases  with 
glass  doors,  on  shelves,  and  in  racks  made  especially 
for  it,  besides  decorating  with  it  mantel-pieces  and  the 
tops  of  cupboards,  cases,  presses  and  chests-of-drawers. 
Much  of  the  china  was  purely  ornamental,  such  as 
birds,  animals,  figures,  and  images.  Specimens  of  the 
china  images  of  the  period  are  shown  on  page  361. 
These  horses  are  white  with  trappings  of  the  brightest 
colours.  They  are  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth. 

Much  of  the  china  of  the  day,  having  come  from 
the  Orient,  was  exceedingly  handsome,  and  was  dis- 
posed of  in  special  bequests.  For  instance,  in  1684, 
Judith  Stuyvesant  left  to  her  son,  Nicholas,  all  her 
china  “ except  the  three  great  pots.”  These  she  left 
“To  my  cousin,  Nicholas  Bayard”  and  “My  black 
cabinet  of  ebben  wood  with  the  foot  or  frame  belong- 
ing to  it,  together  with  the  three  great  china  pots 
before  reserved.” 

There  is  no  reason  why  these  three  great  pots 
should  not  have  been  similar  to  those  shown  on 
page  77,  which  have  been  for  many  years  in  the 
Beekman  family.  This  covered  jar  and  two  beakers 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

are  of  the  famous  old  Hizen  ware,  and  were  probably 
made  about  two  hundred  years  ago.  It  may  be  said 
here  that  in  the  province  of  Hizen  were  two  ports, 
one  of  which,  Nagasaki,  was  the  seat  of  the  Dutch 
trade  after  1641,  and  the  other,  Imari,  the  port  from 
which  most  of  the  china  was  exported.  One  pecu- 
liarity of  Hizen  ware  is  that  it  somewhat  resembles 
Chinese  art.  From  Imari  were  sent  two  kinds  of 
china:  one,  decorated  with  red,  blue  and  gold ; the 
other,  merely  with  blue.  The  style  of  decoration 
consists  of  medallions  representing  landscapes  or  fig- 
ures framed  in  branches  of  chrysanthemum,  peony, 
fir,  or  bamboo.  The  jars  on  page  77  are  of  the  red 
and  blue  variety.  They  were  in  the  home  of  the 
Beekmans  at  “ Rural  Cove,”  New  York  and  are  still 
owned  by  the  family. 

A specimen  of  the  ordinary  Dutch  cabinet  filled 
with  china,  brass  and  copper-ware  of  the  period, 
showing  exactly  what  might  have  been  found  in  the 
simplest  home  of  New  Amsterdam,  is,  with  its  con- 
tents, shown  on  page  356.  People  of  such  wealth  as 
Cornells  Steenwyck,  Jacob  De  Lange,  and  Margarita 
Van  Varick  owned  much  handsomer  cases  and  cabi- 
nets for  the  display  of  their  curios  ; but  such  a cabinet 
as  the  above  was  not  beyond  the  reach  of  any  one. 

From  the  arrival  of  the  English  down  to  the 
Revolution,  china  was  imported  in  increasingly  large 
quantities  from  year  to  year.  Among  the  largest  im- 
porters were  James  Gilliland  in  Wall  Street  and  later 
in  Canon’s  Dock;  John  J.  Roosevelt,  Maiden  Lane; 
George  Bell,  Bayard  Street ; and  Henry  Wilmot, 
Hanover  Square.  Every  now  and  then,  they  adver- 

1 22 


Table  Furnishings 

tised  large  assortments  of  china  and  earthenware  of 
the  “ newest  fashion,”  and  very  frequently  they  de- 
scribed their  goods. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  various  English 
potteries  were  in  their  full  glory.  The  Elers  were 
working  near  Burslem,  producing  a red  ware  similar 
to  Japanese  pottery,  salt-glaze  and  black  ware  ; at 
Burslem,  Aaron  Wood,  Thomas  Whieldon  and  John 
Mitchell  were  turning  out  yellowish  white  and  cream- 
coloured  salt-glaze,  tortoiseshell,  cauliflower  and  melon 
ware,  and  agate  ware,  and  Wedgwood  was  improv- 
ing every  variety  in  partnership  with  Whieldon  and 
later  with  Bentley.  Liverpool,  Worcester,  Leeds, 
Yorkshire,  Chelsea,  Plymouth,  Bow,  Lowestoft, 
Swansea,  and  other  noted  English  potteries  were  at 
the  period  of  their  greatest  activity,  so  that  when  we 
read  such  a simple  announcement  in  1757  as  that 
James  McEvers  has  for  sale  “china  ware  by  the 
chest,  newest  fashion,”  or  that  Gregg  and  Cunning- 
ham at  their  store  in  Queen  Street  have  “ a few  hogs- 
heads of  earthenware,  containing  punch-bowls  and 
plates,  crates  containing  cups,  saucers  and  tea-pots ; 
also  a parcel  of  common  earthenware”  (1756),  we 
can  tell  very  well  what  kind  of  articles  went  into 
New  York  homes.  The  following  advertisement  of 
1757  is  a little  more  detailed  : 

“ To  be  sold  by  Edward  Nicoll  on  the  New  Dock  crates  of 
common  yellow  ware,  both  cups  and  dishes ; crates  of  white 
stone  cups  and  saucers;  crates  of  blue  and  white  ditto;  crates 
of  white  ware  ; crates  of  blue  and  white  ; crates  of  black  ; crates 
of  tortoise  shell  and  crates  of  red,  all  well  sorted  ; crates  of 
pocket  bottles,  boxes  of  glass,  consisting  of  wine  glass;  salts, 
sugar  dishes,  cream  pots  and  tumblers;  tierces  and  hogsheads 

123 


White  enamelled  and  salt  glaze  earthenware,  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth. 

See  page  125. 


Table  Furnishings 

of  Delft  ware,  consisting  of  punch-bowls,  dishes,  tea-cups  and 
saucers;  with  a large  and  good  assortment  of  earthenware  and 
glass;  and  a parcel  of  fine  mosaic  dishes  and  plates  by  retail.” 

Nothing  throughout  our  period  was  more  popular 
than  cream-coloured  earthenware  glazed  with  salt, 
upon  which  Wedgwood  experimented  until  he  pro- 
duced the  famous  cream  between  1761  and  1765.  It 
attracted  the  attention  of  Queen  Charlotte  and  thence- 
forth became  known  as  Queen’s  Ware.  It  constantly 
appears  in  the  New  York  advertisements  after  1765. 

Cream-coloured  ware  from  Leeds,  similar  to  the 
Staffordshire  Queen’s  Ware,  was  also  popular.  It  oc- 
curred most  frequently  in  the  basket,  or  wicker,  pattern 
and  was  exceedingly  light  in  weight.  A choice  group 
of  this  kind  of  ware  appears  on  page  124.  It  belongs 
to  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth.  Here  we  find  basket  and 
perforated  plates,  a fruit-dish  with  a cover  imitating 
various  fruits,  and  a sauce-boat  in  the  shape  of  a 
melon  resting  on  a leaf,  with  a stem  gracefully  twisted 
to  form  a handle. 

Lowestoft  ware  was  made  as  early  as  1752.  Chi- 
nese patterns  and  floral  patterns  (particularly  the 
pink  rose),  were  the  designs  in  most  universal  use. 
Very  frequently,  fine  tea-sets  and  dessert  services 
were  decorated  to  order  with  coats-of-arms,  crests,  or 
cyphers,  accompanied  by  a floral  or  scroll  border. 
This  ware  was  also  imported  into  New  York.  A 
tea-set  that  was  given  to  Gen.  and  Mrs.  Hezekiah 
Barnes,  in  1780,  on  the  occasion  of  their  wedding, 
appears  on  page  126.  It  might,  however,  be  of 
earlier  date.  This  set  is  now  in  the  Museum  of 
the  Colonial  Dames  at  Van  Cortlandt,  New  York. 

125 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

A good  idea  of  the  china  that  was  used  in  1762 
may  be  obtained  by  referring  to  the  stock  of  Keeting 
and  Morris,  who  had  removed  from  Beekman’s  Slip 
to  the  New  Dock  and  announced  “a  compleat  assort- 


Lowestoft  china  in  the  Museum  of  the  New  York  Colonial  Dames.  See 

page  125. 


ment  of  the  most  fashionable  kinds  of  Glass  and  Stone- 
Ware.”  This  included  “table  plates  and  dishes  both 
of  the  oval  and  round  shape,  black  tea-pots,  mugs  and 
bowls  of  all  sizes,  tortoise,  table  plates  and  dishes  of 
the  newest  patterns,  green  and  tortoise  tea-pots,  milk 
pots,  bowls,  cups  and  saucers,  Venice  flower  vases- 
and  horns,  glass  quart,  pint,  and  half  pint  decanters, 
wine  glasses,  enamelled  stone  tea-pots,  mugs,  bowls 
and  tea-cups,  and  saucers  of  all  sizes  and  of  the 
newest  patterns,  with  a great  variety  of  plain  white 
ware.” 

There  was  no  less  interest  in  quaint  figures  of 
animals,  birds,  images  and  curious  objects  than  there 
was  in  the  days  of  the  Dutch.  Ornamental  china  was- 
made  in  great  quantities,  particularly  at  Chelsea, 
Plymouth  and  Bow.  Busts  also  grew  in  popularity. 

126 


Table  Furnishings 

These  were  generally  of  earthenware  brightly  painted. 
Shakespeare,  Milton,  George  II.,  George  III.,  Wolfe, 
Chatham,  and  all  the  popular  heroes,  poets  and  actors 
of  the  day  could  be  had.  Other  ornaments  for  chim- 
ney - pieces,  tops  of  bookcases,  chests  - of  - drawers, 
shelves  and  cabinets,  included  brightly  painted  birds, 
cats,  dogs,  lambs,  shepherds  and  shepherdesses,  myth- 
ological figures,  figures  of  Britannia  seated  on  a lion, 
Minerva  with  shield,  owl,  and  books,  Neptune  with 
trident  on  a base  of  shells  and  rock-work,  lovers,  pas- 
toral figures,  allegorical  figures,  such  as  the  Seasons, 
etc.,  etc.  A typical  group  of  such  ware  appears  on 
page  120.  This  belongs  to  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth. 

A few  citations  of  importations  will  show  how 
popular  was  this  form  of  decoration  ; for  example  : 
“some  beautiful  ornamental  chimney  china”  1766; 
“white  stone-ware,  including  complete  tea-table  toys 
for  children,  with  a great  collection  of  different  kinds 
of  birds,  beasts,  etc.,  in  stoneware,  very  ornamental 
for  mantle-pieces,  chests-of-drawers,  etc.,”  1767  ; “one 
set  of  image  china,”  1768;  “the  greatest  variety  of 
ornamental  china,  consisting  of  groups,  setts  of  fig- 
ures, pairs  and  jars  just  opened,”  1770;  and  “birds 
and  baskets  of  flowers  for  the  tops  of  bookcases,” 
1 775- 

Oriental  ware  never  declines  in  popularity.  Din- 
ner services,  tea-pots,  cups  and  saucers,  vases,  etc., 
come  from  Canton  and  Nankin  as  in  modern  days. 
A few  dishes,  with  a salad-bowl  and  soup  tureen  that 
belonged  to  William  Denning  about  1 765,  are  shown 
on  page  93.  They  show  the  kind  of  Oriental  china 
that  was  in  common  use  in  the  best  New  York  houses. 


127 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

A tea-table  set  of  Nankin  china  was  mentioned  among 
the  private  sales  in  1773. 

The  taste  for  Eastern  art  was  not  shared  by  every 
one,  however,  for  in  a long  fable  in  1754,  we  read 
the  following  description  of  a tea-pot  that  was  evi- 
dently the  fashion  : 

“ A tawdry  Tea  Pot  a la  mode 
Where  Art  her  utmost  skill  bestow’d, 

Was  much  esteem’d  for  being  old, 

And  on  its  sides  with  Red  and  Gold 
Strange  Beasts  were  drawn  in  taste  Chinese, 

And  frightful  Fish  and  hump-backed  Trees. 

High  in  an  elegant  beaufet 
This  pompous  Utensil  was  set. 

And  near  it  on  a Marble  Slab 
Forsaken  by  some  careless  Drab 
A veteran  Scrubbing  Brush  was  plac’d 
And  the  rich  Furniture  disgrac’d.” 

Some  of  the  families  that  inherited  old  china  always 
kept  it  jealously.  A few  examples  still  survive.  They 
have  conquered  every  change  of  fashion.  On  page 
129  is  a pair  of  “Mandarin  vases,”  originally  owned 
by  William  de  Peyster,  who  died  in  1784.  He  also 
owned  the  richly  decorated  Oriental  bowl  that  ap- 
pears on  the  same  plate.  These  three  pieces  were 
buried  for  safety,  during  the  Revolution.  Between 
the  vases  is  a plate  that  belonged  to  Margaret  Liv- 
ingston in  1758. 

In  1767,  we  note  that  Breese  and  Hoffman,  of 
Wall  Street,  had  imported  “ India  china,  enamelled 
and  blue  and  white  bowls,  caudle  cups,  blue  and 
white  cups  and  saucers,  with  small  sets  of  service 
china,  and  Nankin  china  mugs.”  Among  the  lists 
of  importations  from  1750  to  1775,  are  found  Eng- 

128 


Table  Furnishings 


lish  Delft,  blue  and  white  earthenware,  japanned, 
gilded,  green,  agate,  tortoiseshell,  Tunbridge,  Porto- 
bello,  cream-coloured,  brown  edged  sprig,  enamelled 
burnt  china,  quilted  china,  cauliflower  and  melon, 
black,  pencilled,  Dresden,  Staffordshire  and  flint 


Vases,  bowl  and  plate  originally  owned  by  William  de  Peyster,  and  now 
by  the  family  of  the  late  James  de  Peyster.  See  page  128. 


ware.  Pine-apple  and  “ colly  flower  coffee  pots,” 
white  tortoise  mugs  and  jugs,  black  ware  and  agate 
and  melloned  ware  were  advertised  in  1765—6  ; while 
white  and  enamelled  tea-table  sets,  white  and  burnt 
china  bowls,  blue  and  white  enamelled  china,  blue 
and  white  landscape  china,  enamelled  white  and  gilt 
landscape,  nankin,  brown  edged  sprig  and  duck  break- 

129 


10 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

fast  cups  and  saucers,  black  and  white  ribbed  and 
engraved  china,  burnt  china,  and  white,  quilted  and 
plain  china  were  imported  in  1767;  burnt  china  jars 
and  beakers,  fruit-baskets,  sauce-boats  and  “ pickel  ” 
leaves  in  1772;  “burnt  china,  quilted  china,  pencil’d 
china,  blue  and  white  Queen’s  ware,  Delph,  and  stone 
enamelled  black,”  in  1773  ; blue  and  white,  blue  and 
gold,  purple  and  gold  and  enamelled  and  burnt,  in 
1774;  “elegant  sets  of  Dresden  tea  table  china  and 
ornamental  jars  and  figures  decorated  and  enriched  in 
the  highest  taste,”  in  1775  ; and  “very  handsome  red 
china  tea-pots,  Wedgwood’s,”  in  1778. 

In  view  of  these  importations,  it  may  be  interest- 
ing to  define  a few  of  the  varieties  mentioned.  The 
tortoiseshell  ware  was  covered  with  a mottled  glaze, 


Group  of  Wedgwood,  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth.  See  page  132. 


brown,  purple  or  green.  Frequently,  wine  cups  and 
drinking-glasses  were  made  of  this.  A specimen  cup 
with  the  head  of  Bacchus  appears  on  page  120. 

Agate  was  variegated  ware,  imitating  agate  or 
marble,  and  was  made  by  mixing  different  clays  to- 

130 


Table  Furnishings 

gether.  Cauliflower  ware  imitated  that  vegetable  in 
form  and  colour,  and  was  especially  attractive  to  pot- 
ters of  the  day  who  prided  themselves  on  their  green 
glaze  and  cream-coloured  body.  Pickle-leaves  were 
dishes  in  imitation  of  the  leaf  ; the  pineapple  was  imi- 
tated, for  jugs  and  tea-pots  ; the  lettuce  was  used  fre- 
quently for  bowls  and  jugs  ; and  the  favourite  melon 
ware  included  melons  and  other  fruits.  The  Porto- 
bello  ware  was  made  by  Astbury  in  1727  after  the  ex- 
pedition of  Admiral  Vernon,  who  took  Portobello. 

There  was  also  a great  demand  for  the  decorated 
painted  and  enamelled  china.  The  china  was  orna- 
mented with  portraits  of  George  II.,  Queen  Char- 
lotte, William  Pitt,  George  III.  and  Shakespeare, 
and  pictures  of  the  Four  Seasons,  Freemasons’  Arms, 
Masonic  Emblems,  Milkmaid  and  other  pastoral 
scenes  after  Watteau,  Milkmaids  and  May  Dance 
after  Gainsborough,  Garden  Scenes,  Tea  Parties, 
Landscapes  with  Ruins  and  River  Scenes,  Chinese 
Landscapes  and  Ligures,  Lishing  and  Garden  Parties, 
Haymakers,  Architectural  Ruins  after  Panini,  and 
pictures  after  Angelica  Kauffman,  Cipriani,  Cosway 
and  Bartolozzi.  Much  of  this  came  from  Worces- 
ter, Liverpool  and  Battersea. 

In  all  probability,  this  ware  was  the  “pencilled” 
china  so  frequently  mentioned  among  the  late  im- 
portations. Quilted  china  was  done  somewhat  after 
the  style  of  the  pineapple  and  cauliflower  ware,  and 
much  of  it  was  made  at  St.  Cloud  in  France. 

The  most  famous  of  the  many  famous  English 
potters,  however,  was  Josiah  Wedgwood,  who  made 
every  kind  of  ware  that  we  have  mentioned  and 

13 1 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

adapted  it  to  every  article,  including  snuff-boxes,  can- 
dlesticks, inkstands  and  the  handles  of  knives  and 
forks.  The  first  ware  that  brought  fame  to  Wedg- 
wood was  the  “cream  coloured,”  which,  as  we  have 
seen,  became  the  Queen’s  Ware.  Then  he  made  a 
kind  of  red  ware  after  the  style  of  the  Elers  ; and, 
in  i 766,  the  black  ware,  which  he  called  basaltes,  or 
black  Egyptian.  In  1773,  he  made  a fine  white  terra 
cotta  of  great  beauty  and  delicacy  fit  for  cameos,  por- 
traits and  bas-reliefs,  and  in  1776  the  famous  jasper 
ware  that  could  be  made  of  any  tint, — such  as  light 
and  dark  blue,  pale  buff,  salmon-pink  or  sage-green. 
An  interesting  group  of  Wedgwood  specimens  ap- 
pears on  page  130,  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth, 
of  New  York.  There  are  upon  this  illustration  sev- 
eral pieces  of  black  basalt,  jasper  ware  of  pale  blue, 
lapis  lazuli,  sage-green  and  buff  enriched  with  cameos 
and  festoons,  and  a white  vase.  In  the  centre  is  a 
tea-pot  of  black  basalt. 

Although  the  New  York  families  were  constantly 
buying  china  of  the  latest  fashions,  they  took  great 
care  of  the  pieces  that  had  long  been  in  their  homes, 
as  is  shown  by  the  number  of  men  who  made  a busi- 
ness of  repairing.  One  of  these,  Jacob  Da  Costa  in 
Batteau  Street,  advertised  in  1769,  that  he  “mends 
broken  china  with  rivets  and  cement,  mends  all  sorts 
of  marble  or  china  furniture,  such  as  is  used  for 
ornamenting  chimney-pieces,  chests-of-drawers,  etc., 
mends  the  necks  of  decanters  that  have  been  broken, 
hoops  glass  and  china  mugs  that  have  been  cracked 
and  mends  ladies’  fans.” 


132 


II 


PLATE,  TANKARDS,  PUNCH  BOWLS  AND  CANDLESTICKS 

Wrought  silver  was  always  highly  prized.  From 
the  first  settlement  of  this  country,  every  prosperous 
householder  possessed  pieces  of  plate.  In  New  York, 
before  1700,  examples  occur  in  numerous  inventories 
of  English,  Dutch  and  French  homes.  Thomas  Eaton 
in  1668,  bequeathed  to  Mrs.  Abigail  Nicolls,  “my 
silver  boat,  my  silver  meat  fork,  and  a silver  spoon.” 
George  Cook’s  silver,  in  1679,  was  worth  ^40.  John 
Sharpe,  in  1681,  owned  730  oz.  of  silver  plate  valued 
at  /219. 

At  that  date,  wrought  silver  was  worth  six  shil- 
lings and  eightpence  an  ounce.  It  may  be  mentioned 
here  that  its  value  averaged  about  seven  shillings  an 
ounce  for  the  next  two  hundred  years.  Col.  Lewis 
Morris  (1691),  had  900  oz.  of  silver  plate,  which  at 
6 sh.  9d.  per  oz.  came  to  ^303-15.0.  Five  years 
later,  185  oz.  belonging  to  Margarita  Van  Varick  was 
valued  at  7 sh.  gd  per  oz.  Besides  this  185  oz.,  which 
was  probably  in  the  form  of  cups,  beakers,  salvers, 
etc.,  she  had  a lot  of  miscellaneous  articles  in  silver. 

These  comprised  two  pairs  of  scissors,  two  brushes 
lined  with  silver,  a spice-box,  an  egg-dish,  a thimble, 
a wrought  East  India  box,  a small  knife  and  fork, 
three  wrought  East  Indian  cups,  two  wrought  East 
Indian  dishes,  two  knives,  five  wrought  East  Indian 

G3 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

boxes,  a tumbler  marked  R.  V.,  a fork  with  studded 
handle,  a wrought  East  Indian  trunk,  a salt-cellar,  a 
china  cup  bound  with  silver,  and  eighty-three  play- 
things, or  toys.  All  these  items  were  separately 
specified  as  silver.  Some  of  the  individual  prices  of 
plate  of  this  period  may  be  of  interest.  In  1690,  it  is 
expressly  stated  that  six  large  and  three  small  spoons 
together  with  six  forks,  belonging  to  Madame  Blanche 
Sauzeau,  cost  ^10.  In  1686,  a silver  beaker  belong- 
ing to  Derick  Clausen  was  appraised  at  £$  ; and  the 
295  oz.  belonging  to  Sarah  Jacobs  were  valued  at 
seven  shillings  per  ounce. 

Asser  Levy,  a butcher  in  1683,  was  evidently  fond 
of  plate.  His  pieces  comprise  twenty-two  silver 
spoons,  one  fork,  three  goblets,  one 
tumbler,  one  tankard,  one  mustard 
pot,  one  cup  with  two  ears, 
small  cups,  one  ditto,  one  gob- 
let, two  salt-cellars,  one  cup, 
one  spice -box,  a Cornelia 
tree  cup  with  silver  and 
two  ditto  dishes,  weighing 
in  all  10  lbs.  and  valued  at 
^48.  His  total  estate  was 

^553“ * Silver  tankard,  owned  by 

William  Cox  (1689)*  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster, 

owned  a case  of  silver  hafted  Esq.  Seepage  137. 

knives,  silver  tankard,  cup, 

plate,  sugar-box  and  spoon,  salt-cellar,  two  porringers, 
tumbler  and  twelve  spoons. 

It  is  thus  abundantly  evident  that,  at  the  opening 
of  our  period,  the  chests,  kasses  and  cupboards  of  the 

i34 


Table  Furnishings 

New  York  traders  were  well  supplied  with  plate. 
But  before  going  further  in  our  examination  of  the 
Eighteenth  Century  silver,  it  will  be  well  to  recapitu- 
late those  articles  most  commonly  found  already. 
These  are  the  dram  cup,  the  caudle  cup,  the  salt,  the 
beaker,  the  salver,  the  tumbler,  the  goblet,  the  tank- 
ard, and  the  porringer.  In  addition  to  these,  there 
were  boxes  for  spices,  pepper  and  sugar,  besides 
knives,  spoons,  forks  and  candlesticks.  It  must  be 
remembered,  however,  that  even  in  1700  the  fork 
was  not  yet  universally  used.  The  voider  was  a dish 
or  tray  into  which  crumbs  and  fragments  of  food 
were  swept  from  the  table  after  a meal.  The  “ voyder 
knife  ” used  for  this  purpose  is  frequently  mentioned 
in  the  inventories.  The  voider  soon  came  into  gen- 
eral use  : families  that  could  not  afford  one  of  silver, 
had  one  painted,  or  japanned,  or  made  of  mahogany. 

The  “salt”  still  preserved  its  massive  Mediaeval 
character  in  many  cases,  though  the  low  circular,  or 
octagonal,  form  was  rapidly  driving  it  out.  Twenty 
ounces  was  not  an  excessive  weight  for  one  of  the 
high  chased  and  carved  “salts”  used  here  in  1700. 

A great  water-pot  with  its  cover,  belonging  to 
James  Laty,  in  1692,  was,  perhaps,  one  of  those 
fine  ewers  employed  for  pouring  water  over  the  hands 
after  every  course  at  meals  in  an  age  when  forks  were 
not  in  general  use.  They  were  accompanied  by  ba- 
sins, similarly  ornamented.  The  description,  however, 
would  rather  fit  the  “ tankard  ” that  came  into  general 
use  during  the  Seventeenth  Century.  The  word  was 
originally  applied  to  a receptacle  for  water, — tub, 
bucket,  or  jug — and  gradually  restricted  to  mean  a 

i35 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


silver  or  pewter  mug  with  handle  or  cover.  From 
the  accession  of  Charles  II.  to  that  of  George  I.  this 

article  was  usually 
plain  in  form  and  de- 
sign, with  flat  hinged 
lids  and  heavy  han- 
dles, the  latter  some- 
times terminating  in 
a whistle.  The  later 
“ Queen  Anne  ” tank- 
ards, however,  had  a 
swelling  drum  and 
domed  lid,  some- 
times ending  in  a 
knob.  Their  orna- 
mentation principal- 
Silver  candlesticks  (1762-’ 3),  originally  , consisted  of  the 


owned  by  Samuel  and  Judith  Ver  Planck. 
See  page  143. 


arms  and  monograms 
of  the  owners.  Some- 
times silver  coins  were  embedded  in  the  lids  of  these 
tankards.  Thus,  in  1733  : 


“ Stole  at  Flatbush  on  Long  Island  One  Silver  Tank- 
ard, a piece  of  Money  in  the  Led  of  King  Charles  II.  and  the 
Led  all  ingraved,  a Coat  of  Arms  before  (in  it  a Man  on  a 
Waggon  with  two  Horses)  marked  in  the  handle  L P A.  One 
Silver  Tankard  plain  with  a piece  of  Money  in  the  Led, 
mark’d  on  the  Handle  A P or  A L.  One  Cup  with  two  twisted 
Ears  chas’d  with  Skutchens  mark’d  L P A.  One  Tumbler 
mark’d  L P A.  One  Dutch  Beker  weighs  about  28  Ounces 
Engrav’d  all  round  mark’d  L P A.  All  the  above  was  made 
by  Jacob  Boele,  Stamp’d  I.  B.  One  large  Cup  with  two  cast 
Ears,  with  Heads  upon  them  and  a Coat  of  arms  Engrav’d 
thereon.  One  Cup  with  two  Ears,  a small  Hole  in  the  bottom. 
Whoever  can  inform  Peter  Lefferts  of  Flatbush  on  Long  Island, 

136 


Table  Furnishings 

or  Abraham  Lefferts  in  New  York,  so  that  it  may  be  had  again, 
shall  have  Fifteen  Pounds  Reward  and  no  Questions  asked.” 

A very  fine  authentic  example  of  this  style  is 
owned  by  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster,  Esq.  and  appears 
on  page  134.  Another  that  belonged  to  William 
Beekman  is  represented  on  page  1 79.  A later  form 
of  tankard  appears  on  page  156.  The  hall-mark 
shows  that  this  was  made  in  1749-50.  It  belonged 
to  James  Alexander  and  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Parke  Custis  Lewis  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.  An- 
other early  Eighteenth  century  tankard  appears  on 
page  153.  A fifth  is  shown  on  page  371  ; it  belonged 
to  Maria  Crooke  who  gave  it  to  her  daughter,  Catha- 
rine Elmendorph  in  1 768  when  she  was  married  to 
Rutgers  Bleecker  of  Albany.  The  tankard  is  en- 
graved with  the  Crooke  arms. 

A sixth  tankard,  shown  on  page  138,  is  marked 
on  the  handle  RRg  , the  initials  standing  for  Richard 
and  Sarah  (Bogert)  Ray  whose  pictures  appear  on 
pages  195  and  202.  This  piece  of  silver  was  be- 
queathed to  their  son  Cornelius  Ray  (1755-1827), 
whose  initials  with  crest  (Ray)  are  engraved  on  the 
front  of  the  tankard.  The  large  mug  has  the  same 
initials,  and  the  small  mug  contains  the  crest,  but  not 
the  markings  on  the  handle.  The  soup-ladle,  which 
is  an  unusually  fine  specimen,  is  also  marked  with  the 
Ray  initials.  These  are  now  owned  by  a descendant, 
Mrs.  Natalie  E.  Baylies  of  New  York. 

The  slop-bowl  with  cover,  in  the  same  illustration, 
belonged  to  Elizabeth  Elmendorph  who  married  Cor- 
nelius Ray  and  is  now  owned  by  their  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  Natalie  E.  Baylies.  The  large  silver  salver 

i37 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

hanging  above  these  smaller  articles  has  the  date 
letter  of  1 784-5  and  is  engraved  with  the  arms  of  the 
English  family  of  Sands.  It  was  given  by  Comfort 
Sands  to  his  daughter,  Cornelia,  in  1797  when  she 
was  married  to  Nathaniel  Prime.  She  gave  it  to 
Rufus  Prime  and  it  passed  from  Temple  Prime  to 
Mrs.  Natalie  E.  Baylies. 


Silver  belonging  to  the  Sands  and  Ray  families  ; now  owned  by  Mrs. 

Natalie  E.  Baylies.  See  page  137. 

The  two  silver  mugs  standing  on  the  tea-table 
(page  312)  are  excellent  specimens  of  the  period. 
They  were  owned  by  Thomas  Barrow  and  brought 
by  him  to  New  York.  They  are  dated  H,  the  letter 
for  the  year  1763-4,  and  are  ornamented  with  scroll- 
work, flowers  and  pavilions  in  the  Chinese  taste. 

Tumblers  are  often  found.  These  received  their 

138 


Table  Furnishings 

name  from  the  fact  that  no  matter  how  you  laid 
them  down,  they  were  so  balanced  as  always  to 
assume  an  upright  position,  swaying  from  side  to 
side  till  they  came  to  rest  on  their  own  base.  These 
round-bottomed  acrobatic  cups,  or  tumblers,  were 
sometimes  called  bowls  in  the  inventories,  and  were 
of  different  sizes ; — the  larger  for  beer  and  the  smaller 
for  wine. 

Caudle-cups,  which  frequently  occur,  were  also 
known  as  posset-cups  or  posnets.  At  the  present 
time  they  would  probably  be  designated  loving-cups. 
They  had  two  handles  and  a cover,  and  sometimes 
stood  on  a tray.  They  were  wider  at  the  base  than 
at  the  top  and  were  used  for  drinking  posset,  which 
was  a concoction  of  milk  curdled  with  wine,  and 
other  ingredients.  Bowls,  also  with  covers  and 
handles,  but  wider  in  the  mouth  than  the  caudle-cup, 
were  called  porringers.  Instead  of  being  circular  in 
form,  they  sometimes  had  eight  or  twelve  sides.  The 
Queen  Anne  fluted  porringers  were  often  used  as 
beer  cups.  Earlier  specimens  were  ornamented  with 
acanthus  and  other  leaves  and  floral  devices  in  re- 
fioussd  work.  As  time  went  on,  the  porringer  became 
taller  in  proportion  to  its  diameter  and  the  handles 
more  slender  and  graceful.  Another  important  piece 
of  plate  was  the  punch-bowl.  This  occurs  in  innu- 
merable inventories  during  the  Seventeenth  and  EicTt- 
eenth  Centuries  from  Salem  to  Charleston. 

The  handsome  silver  punch-bowl  on  page  140 
now  belonging  to  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster,  Esq.,  is  of 
English  make  as  its  hall-marks  show.  It  dates  from 
the  year  1704,  and  is  almost  identical  with  one  in 

1 39 


Silver  punch-bowl  (1704)  owned  by  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster,  Esq. 

See  page  139. 


Table  Furnishings 

possession  of  the  Vintners  Company,  London,  which 
is  of  the  year  1 702.  The  fluted  bowl,  the  large  rings 
depending  from  the  lions’  heads,  and  the  gadrooned 
base  are  characteristics  of  this  period. 

This  kind  of  punch-bowl  was  usually  called  a 
Monteith,  from  a scalloped  or  battlemented  rim  that 
was  placed  on  the  top  of  the  bowl  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  the  glasses.  The  name  was  given  to  it  on 
account  of  its  association  with  a gentleman  of  fash- 
ion who  was  noted  for  wearing  a scalloped  coat.  The 
glasses  were  arranged  in  the  scalloped  rim  with  their 
bases  outward.  The  bowl  was  brought  in  empty,  for 
every  gentleman  took  pride  in  mixing  punch.  The 
various  ingredients  and  the  ladle  were  brought  in 
with  the  bowl.  When  the  bowl  was  placed  on  the 
table,  the  glasses  were  first  lifted  out  of  the  rim  and 
then  the  rim  was  removed.  Punch  ladles  were  of 
silver,  or  horn  tipped  with  silver.  One,  of  silver  with 
a twisted  ebony  handle,  appears  on  page  388.  Punch- 
strainers  were  also  used. 

Ewers  and  basins  became  plentiful  before  1 700, 
the  absence  of  forks,  as  has  been  said,  rendering  them 
very  necessary  at  meals.  The  great  number  of  nap- 
kins in  every  home  of  wealth  is  thus  accounted  for 
also.  The  salvers  that  accompanied  the  helmet- 
shaped ewers  were  usually  quite  plain.  The  other 
salvers,  about  1700,  were  plain  circular  dishes  with  en- 
graved ornamentation.  The  engraving  as  a decora- 
tion had  taken  the  place  of  the  reponssd  work  of  the 
earlier  styles,  some  of  which  are  very  beautifully 
wrought.  A magnificent  specimen  is  shown  on  page 
394.  The  De  Peyster  arms  are  stamped  in  the  centre. 

141 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

The  “ Queen  Anne  ” salvers  have  their  edees  both 
chased  and  shaped,  and  they  stand  on  three  and  some- 
times four  small  feet.  The  plainer  ones  are  often 
gadrooned  around  the  edges. 

The  succeeding  style  of  salver  had  a beaded  edge, 
and  instead  of  being  circular,  or  shaped,  was  a plain 
oval  tray  with  a handle  at  each  end.  One  of  these 
appears  on  page  156  with  one  of  older  date  above  it. 
The  lower  one  was  given  by  Gen.  Washington  to 
Eleanor  Custis.  The  hall-mark  shows  that  it  was 
made  in  England  in  1797.  The  Lewis  arms  are  en- 
graved upon  it.  It  is  interesting  as  showing  how  long 
this  style  lasted, — at  least,  till  the  end  of  the  century. 
The  small  salver,  above  it  of  very  handsome  design, 
has  the  hall-mark  1743.  It  belongs  to  Miss  Garnett 
of  Hoboken,  N.  J.  On  the  same  plate  are  shown 
two  coffee-pots,  one  of  which  belonged  to  James 
Alexander  (see  page  76),  a tea-pot  with  hall-mark  of 
1749-50;  a tankard  (1749-50)  and  a sugar-dredger. 

Candelabra,  candlesticks  and  sconces  of  silver 
were  found  in  fashionable  homes  very  early  in  the 
history  of  New  York.  The  big  “standing  candle- 
stick ” often  had  two  or  three  arms  or  branches.  The 
candlesticks  in  the  form  of  fluted  columns  were  the 
favourite  form  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  They 
lasted  for  many  years.  The  bases  were  generally 
square,  but  sometimes  octagonal.  At  a certain  height 
above  the  base,  these  candlesticks  had  a projection 
that  served  as  a knob  by  which  they  could  be  conve- 
niently held  or  carried.  This  simple  form  remained 
in  fashion  through  the  reigns  of  Williani  and  Mary, 
and  Anne,  but  the  fluted  columns  changed  to  balus- 

142 


Table  Furnishings 

ter  stems  with  square  bases  having  the  corners  some- 
times cut  off,  and  sometimes  set  back  and  rounded. 

During  the  reign  of  George  I.  the  florid  ornamen- 
tation and  twisted  work  of  the  Regency  and  early 
Louis  Quinze  style  came  into  vogue,  especially  the 
designs  of  Meissonier.  Good  examples  are  the  can- 
dlesticks on  page  136  and  the  very  beautiful  tea-kettle 
and  stand  on  page  36,  both  of  which  belonged  to 
the  Ver  Planck  family.  The  candlesticks  are  part  of 
a set  of  six  originally  owned  by  Samuel  and  Judith 
Crommelin  Ver  Planck.  The  hall-mark  shows  that 
they  were  made  in  1 762.  These  are  now  owned  by 
Mr.  William  E.  Ver  Planck  of  New  York.  The 
tea-kettle  on  page  36  has  the  same  hall-mark,  and  is 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Louis  Fitzgerald,  of  New  York. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  George  III.,  the 
fashionable  pattern  for  the  candlestick  was  the  Co- 
rinthian column,  and  this  was  the  first  style  that  in- 
variably had  a removable  socket-pan.  Fine  examples 
are  shown  on  page  150.  These  bear  the  hall-marks 
of  1766  and  belonged  to  the  Waltons  (see  pages  19 
and  69).  Four  candlesticks  of  the  same  period,  owned 
by  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster,  Esq.,  appear  on  page  270. 

Every  home  that  had  any  pretensions  to  wealth  or 
fashion  was  supplied  with  silver  candlesticks  for  at 
least  one  room.  Glass  was  also  very  fashionable  for 
sconces.  In  1729,  Governor  Burnet  owned  twelve 
silver  candlesticks  weighing  171^  oz.,  two  branches 
for  three  lights  and  two  large  glass  sconces  with  glass 
arms.  (See  page  63.) 

Like  the  china,  the  plate  was  often  kept  in  cup- 
boards made  for  its  display.  Among  the  possessions 

i43 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

of  George  Duncan  (1724),  who  owned  258  oz.  of 
silver,  we  find  a plate  case  with  glass  doors  valued  at 
^3-5-a  These  cupboards  did  not  afford  much  pro- 
tection against  theft,  and  rendered  the  burglar’s  task 
easy.  We  find  many  advertisements  of  stolen  plate, 
with  rewards  for  its  recovery.  In  most  cases  it  bears 
the  arms  and  almost  invariably  the  initials  of  the 
owner.  Several  contemporary  engravers  found  plenty 
of  employment  in  New  York.  In  1755,  Henry  Daw- 
kins, engraver,  lives  opposite  the  Merchants’  Coffee 
House.  In  1763,  “Joseph  Simons  seal-cutter  and  en- 
graver from  Berlin,  cuts  all  sorts  of  coats-of-arms,  cy- 
phers etc.  in  stone,  steel,  silver,  or  any  other  metal, 
also  engraves  coats-of-arms,  crests  and  cyphers  on 
plate  &c.” 


<(  For  Bristol,  the  brigantine  Phila , freight  and  passage, 
Cruger’s  wharf.”  (1773.) 


44 


Ill 


TEA-POTS,  URNS  AND  SPOONS 

Besides  the  plate  imported  from  France,  England 
and  Holland,  a considerable  quantity  was  manu- 
factured here.  On  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes,  many  of  the  best  workers  in  the  precious 
metals  left  France  and  settled  in  Holland,  Germany 
and  England.  Not  a few  crossed  the  Atlantic.  The 
names  of  the  silversmiths  who  were  freemen  of  New 
York  from  the  close  of  the  Seventeenth  Century 
till  the  Revolution  were  as  follows  : Everardus  Bo- 
gardus,  Ahasuerus  Kendrick,  Cornelis  Kiersteade  and 
Benjamin  Wyncoope  (1698)  ; Richard  Overin  and 
Jacob  Vanderspiegel  (1701);  Benjamin  Kip  (1702); 
Bartolo  Schaats  (1708)  ; Cornelis  Cornelison  (1712)  ; 
Coenraet  Ten  Eyck  (1716)  ; Peter  Vergereau  (1721)  ; 
Samuel  Broadhurst  (1725);  John  Hastier  (1726); 
Cornelius  Wynkoop  (1  727)  ; Stephen  Bourdet  (1  730)  ; 
John  Brevoort  (1742)  ; Silvester  Morris  (1  759)  ; John 
Burt  Lyng  and  John  Heath  (1761)  ; Joshua  Slydell 
and  William  Grigg  (1765)  ; Walter  Thomas  (1769)  ; 
and  John  Rominie  (1770). 

It  will  be  noticed  that  some  of  the  above  names 
are  unmistakably  Huguenot,  while  others  are  English 
and  Dutch.  Besides  these  freemen,  other  silversmiths 
kept  shops  in  New  York  and  advertised  in  the  papers. 
In  1767,  Cary  Dunn  was  in  New  Dutch  Church 

145 


n 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Street.  Joseph  Pinto  of  Bayard  Street  was  a silver- 
smith who  kept  his  wares  prominently  before  the 
public.  In  1759  he  announced  : 

“Very  neat  chased  silver  tea  pots,  sugar  pots,  mugs  chased 
and  plain,  milk  pots,  coffee  pots,  pepper  castors,  salts  with 
shovels  and  glasses  to  them,  fluted  and  chased  children’s 
whistles,  double  and  single  jointed  tea  tongs,  tea  spoons,  punch 
strainers  and  ladles.” 

He  also  sold  “crystal  and  paste  shoe,  knee,  stock 
and  girdle  buckles”  and  in  1761  he  offered  : 

“Very  fine  silver  chased  turene,  dish  and  spoon;  chased 
and  plain  stands,  full  finished  ; chased  candlesticks,  coffee  and 
tea  pots,  sugar  dishes,  slop  bowls,  and  sauce  boats,  chased  and 
plain  pint  and  half  pint  mugs,  salvers  of  different  sizes,  and 
milk  pots,  salts  and  pepper  castors  and  narrow  spoons,  cases 
with  silver-handled  knives  and  forks,  silver  watches,  silver  and 
plated  spurs,  chased  and  plain  whistles,  gold-headed  canes, 
locket  buttons  set  in  gold,  shoe,  knee  and  girdle  buckles.” 

In  the  same  year,  he  had  a few  additional  articles, 
including  silver  chased  coffee-pots,  tea-pots  and  sugar- 
dishes,  punch-strainers  and  ladles,  and  a “ great  vari- 
ety of  open-worked  stone,  knee  and  girdle  buckles, 
gold  and  silver  brooches  set  with  garnets,  plain  gold 
do.,  crystal  buttons  set  in  gold  and  a variety  of  other 
things.”  Another  silversmith  who  was  anxious  to 
serve  the  public  was  Benjamin  Halsted.  On  one 
occasion  at  least,  he  does  not  seem  to  have  given  en- 
tire satisfaction,  judging  from  the  following  announce- 
ment in  1 764 : 

“ A premonition  to  those  gentlemen  that  may  hereafter 
have  an  occasion  to  employ  a silversmith  to  beware  of  that 
villain  Benjamin  Halsted;  lest  they  be  bit  by  him  as  I have 
been.  Andrew  Bowne.” 


146 


Table  Furnishings 


A few  representative  lists  of  plate  actually  owned 
by  families  about  the  middle  of  the  century  will  show 
that  the  New  York  merchant’s  table  was  as  well  sup- 
plied as  his  brother’s  in  England.  Rip  Van  Dam, 
(see  page  86)  possessed  a good  deal  of  valuable  silver 


Urn,  coffee-pot,  spoons,  etui  case  and  snuff-box  owned  by  the  Lynson, 
Rutgers  and  Ludlow  families.  See  page  152. 


among  which  may  be  mentioned  three  tankards  rela- 
tively worth  $50.00,  $35.00  and  $60.00  ; a chafing-dish, 
$35.00  ; two  candlesticks,  snuffers  and  stand,  $80.00  ; 
three  castors,  $30.00  ; two  salvers  worth  $40.00  and 
$18.00;  mug,  salt-cellar  and  pepper-box,  $20.00;  two 
dozen  spoons,  $18.00  ; a pot,  $14.00  ; and  tea-spoons 
and  table  spoons,  $25.00.  The  de  Peyster  plate,  in 
1760,  consisted  of  four  tankards,  two  decanters,  two 

i47 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

dishes,  three  plates,  seven  salvers,  two  large  salvers, 
two  small  salvers,  two  cups  and  covers,  two  chafing- 
dishes,  six  porringers,  four  sauce-boats,  two  punch- 
bowls, three  mugs,  four  sugar-dishes,  a coffee-pot  and 
tea-pot,  seven  salts  and  shovels,  one  saucepan,  four 
pairs  of  snuffers  and  stand,  a mustard-pot,  a bread- 
basket, a dram-bottle,  a tobacco-dish,  nine  castors, 
six  candlesticks,  one  waiter,  twenty-three  forks,  three 
soup-spoons,  two  punch-ladles,  ten  tablespoons,  ten 
tea-spoons,  two  sugar-tongs  — all  weighing  1272 
ounces, — valued  at  from  $1,500  to  $2,000. 

Some  specimens  of  silver  that  were  long  in  the 
de  Peyster  family  appear  on  pages  140  and  394.  Oth- 
ers, including  an  urn,  coffee-pot,  salvers,  a tea-caddy, 
a mug,  a strainer,  ladles,  candlesticks  and  grape-vine 
spoons  appear  on  page  153.  These  are  owned  by  the 
family  of  the  late  James  de  Peyster  of  New  York. 

The  silver  in  the  Walton  house  (described  on  page 
69),  might  have  indeed  been  described  as  “ massy 
plate,”  amounting  as  it  did  to  340!  ounces.  It  con- 
sisted of  two  pairs  of  silver  candlesticks,  81$  ounces  ; 
one  silver  snuffers  stand,  1 1$  ; one  large  silver  waiter, 
32;  two  small  silver  waiters,  15^;  two  pint  mugs, 
2 if  ; two  pint  bowls,  12J  ; two  sauce-boats,  29  ; four 
salts  and  four  shovels,  i2f  ; twenty  tea-spoons;  one 
sugar-tongs,  1 ; one  small  chafing-dish,  1 ; one  punch- 
ladle,  f ; one  wine-cock,  5 ; two  table-spoons,  4f  ; 
one  tankard,  3if  ; one  punch-strainer,  if  ; one  coffee- 
pot, 28  ; one  large  soup-spoon,  8 ; one  large  tankard, 
44  ; and  two  large  cases  of  knives,  forks,  and  spoons. 
Two  of  the  above  candlesticks  appear  on  page  150. 

We  have  seen  that  during  the  Eighteenth  Cen- 

148  ' 


Table  Furnishings 


tury,  it  was  not  an  exceptional  case  for  a wealthy 
home  to  contain  plate  weighing  1000  oz.  and  some- 
times considerably  more.  It  will  be  interesting  to 
see  of  what  a typical  collection  of  this  kind,  though 
only  of  about  half  the  above  amount,  consisted. 

oz.  dwts. 

i silver  tea-kettle,  lamp  and  stand 107  14 

1 waiter 82  10 


1 saucepan 

1 

15 

1 chafing-dish 

14 

1 set  castors  and  stand . . . . 

..  31 

12 

1 tankard 

35 

10 

1 flat  waiter 

9 

1 salver 

••  13 

2 

1 small  waiter 

..  6 

3 

2 small  waiters 

• • 15 

9 

1 punch-strainer 

2 

1 caudle-cup 

15 

1 pair  salvers 

...  15 

4 

1 pair  sauce-boats 

• • 27 

9 

2 small  saucepans 

7 

1 punch  ladle 

12  table  spoons 

23 

15 

2 large  soup-spoons 

11 

18 

12  table-spoons 

. . . 24 

!5 

10  table-spoons 

..  18 

10 

12  custard-spoons 

12 

5 

2 marrow-spoons . 

H 

1 pepper-box 



0 

9 

12  tea-spoons 

6 

1 1 

12  tea-spoons 

2 

18 

The  date  of  the  above  inventory  is  1751.  In  ad- 
dition to  these  articles,  it  enumerated:  12  silver- 
handled  knives  and  forks  ; 12  dessert  ditto  ; 23  knives 
and  forks  with  ivory  handles,  and  12  dessert  ditto. 

An  early  example  of  the  tea-pot  is  globular.  This 
form  was  frequently  ornamented  with  a crest,  or  coat- 
of-arms.  Specimens  appear  on  pages  275  and  138. 

149 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


The  former  was  owned  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson, 
first  President  of  King’s  College  ; and  now  belongs  to 
his  descendants,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  E.  Ver  Planck. 
The  second,  belonging  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Ray, 
is  now  owned  by  their  descend- 
ant, Mrs.  Natalie  E.  Baylies, 
of  New  York.  It  is  notice- 
able- that  many  tea-pots 
and  tea-kettles  of  the 
reigns  of  George  11.  and 
George  III.  are  very  sim- 
ple in  design.  In  these 
reigns,  Eouis  Ouinze  de- 
signs were  also  very 
popular.  An  ex- 
ample of  such  a 
tea-pot,  bearing 
the  hall-mark  of 
1 749-50,  appears 
on  page  156.  An- 
other tea-pot  ap- 
pears on  page  273. 

The  latter  belonged 
to  Dr.  Matthias  Bur-  Silver  candlesticks  owned  by  William 
net  Miller  (1749-  Walton  (1766).  See  pages  143 
1792),  and  was  given  and  H8- 
to  his  son  Judge  Mor- 
ris Smith  Miller.  This  is  now  owned  by  his  great- 
granddaughter,  Mrs.  Wilmot  Townsend  Cox,  of  New 
York.  A handsome  tea-set,  said  to  date  from  the 
middle  of  the  century,  belongs  to  Frederic  J.  de 
Peyster,  Esq.,  and  appears  on  page  284. 

150 


Table  Furnishings 


As  a rule,  the  coffee-pot  was  slender  and  taller  in 
form  than  the  tea-pot.  Coffee-pots  appear  on  pages 
153  and  156.  Two  coffee-pots  of  the  Louis  Quinze 
period  are  shown  on  the  latter  page.  The  one  on  the 
right  with  the  hall-mark  1758-9,  belonged  to  James 
Alexander,  father  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling  (see  page 
76).  It  has  a beautiful  pattern  of  flowers  and  scroll- 
work and  a border  of  little  bells  reminiscent  of  Chi- 
nese ornamentation.  The  top  is  shaped  like  a pine- 
apple. This  piece  of  silver  was  buried  during  the 
Revolution.  It  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Alexander’s 
descendant,  Mrs.  Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis,  of 
Hoboken,  N.  J.  The  other  coffee-pot,  in  the  same 
picture,  bearing  the  hall-mark  of  1 762-3,  is  similar  in 
its  general  design  and  ornamentation.  Another  old 
coffee-pot  appears  on  page  147,  and  is  owned  by  Mrs. 
W.  W.  Shippen  of  New  York. 

The  cream-jug  and  sugar-bowl  usually  matched 
the  tea-pot.  Part  of  a set  that  originally  belonged 
to  Henry  Bowers  (1747-1800),  is  shown  on  page  371. 
These  are  now  owned  by  his  descendant,  Mrs.  Wil- 
mot  Townsend  Cox  of  New  York.  Their  general 
shape,  with  lobes,  as  well  as  their  square  handles  and 
ball  feet  show  that  these  are  early  pieces.  It  may  be 
remarked  here  that  the  ball  foot  upon  silver  vessels 
appeared  very  early  in  the  Seventeenth  Century. 
Upon  the  same  illustration  (page  371),  is  a gravy 
boat  that  belonged  to  Maria  Crooke  (1721-1794), 
who  was  married  to  Petrus  Elmendorph  of  Kingston. 
It  is  owned  now  by  their  great-grand-daughter  Mrs. 
Wilmot  Townsend  Cox.  The  salt-cellars  with  their 
original  spoons  were  owned  by  John  Rutger  Bleecker 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

and  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  French  Ensor 
Chadwick.  The  tankard  was  owned  by  Maria  Crooke, 
and  the  candlestick  is  one  of  a pair  owned  by  James 
Chatham  Duane. 

Chocolate-pots  were  much  used  and  sometimes 
stood  on  feet.  One  of  quite  late  date  bearing  the 
hall-mark  of  1784,  and  owned  by  Mrs.  Douglas  Rob- 
inson, of  New  York,  appears  on  page  352. 

The  urn  is  of  later  date  than  the  tea-kettle.  It 
was  generally  of  a pointed  or  oval  shape.  Specimens 
appear  on  pages  153  and  147.  The  former  belongs  to 
the  de  Peyster  family  ; the  second,  to  Catharine  Lyn- 
son  and  is  owned  by  her  descendant,  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Shippen,  of  New  York.  In  the  same  illustration  is 
shown  a coffee-pot  that  belonged  to  Gabriel  Ludlow, 
and  coffee-spoons  decorated  with  the  heads  of  jesters. 
There  is  also  a snuff-box  on  this  plate  and  an  dtui 
case  once  owned  by  Catharine  Rutgers. 

A group  of  silver  appears  on  page  273,  together 
with  several  small  articles.  On  the  left  is  a sugar- 
bowl  that  belonged  to  a set  owned  by  Maria  Living- 
ston and  James  Duane  who  were  married  in  1759. 
It  is  now  owned  by  their  great-great-grand-daughter, 
Mrs.  French  Ensor  Chadwick.  On  the  left  is  a bowl 
owned  by  Mrs.  Wilmot  Townsend  Cox.  The  small 
salt-cellars  that  belonged  to  the  lion.  Samuel  Jones 
of  New  York  (1734-1819),  are  also  owned  by  Mrs. 
Cox.  Between  them  stands  a small  filigree  bowl,  or 
cup,  lined  with  blue  glass,  and  a spoon.  These  be- 
longed to  Cornelia  I Tarring  Jones,  wife  of  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Jones  and  are  now  owned  by  her  great-great- 
grand-daughter,  Mrs.  French  Ensor  Chadwick. 

152 


Silver  belonging  in  the  family  of  the  late  James  de  Peyster  of  New  York. 

See  page  148. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

A few  examples  of  plated  ware  appear  on  pages 
321  and  368.  The  tea-caddy,  snuff-box,  dish,  and 
open-work  basket  on  page  368,  are  owned  by  Mrs. 
Alan  Hartwell  Strong  of  New  Brunswick.  On  the 
same  illustration  are  some  very  interesting  card-count- 
ers, each  stamped  with  the  head  of  Queen  Anne. 
The  little  cylindrical  box  in  which  these  are  kept  also 
bears  Oueen  Anne’s  head. 

Silver  spoons  were  to  be  found  in  this  country 
from  its  earliest  settlement.  The  forms  of  the  old 
spoons  were  very  numerous.  The  bowls  were  deep 
and  shallow,  egg-shaped,  kite-shaped  and  circular. 
The  stems  were  round,  flat,  fluted,  spiral,  square  and 
worked  in  many  patterns.  Sometimes  the  handle 
ended  in  a baluster  and  square,  or  hexagonal,  engraved 
button  (known  as  the  seal-headed  spoon)  ; sometimes 
in  a head  or  figure.  The  most  famous  of  those  with 
figures  were  the  Apostles’  Spoons,  which  were  always 
highly  prized.  They  occur  frequently  in  the  inven- 
tories. 

The  end  of  the  handle  of  the  Jacobean  spoon  was 
broadened,  flattened  and  notched,  terminating  in  three 
points  slightly  turned  up,  and  the  bowl  was  a regular 
oval  in  shape.  This  was  called  the  hind’s  foot  spoon 
and  lasted  till  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne. 

The  new  fashion  then  introduced  shows  a bowl  of 
a more  elongated  ellipse  ; the  end  of  the  handle 
rounded  and  turned  up,  and  the  middle  of  the  stem 
gradually  rising  in  a high  ridge  running  down  to  the 
extremity  of  the  handle.  Although  other  styles  were 
successively  introduced,  this  pattern  persisted  almost 
till  1770.  About  1750,  the  shape  with  which  we  are 

154 


Table  Furnishings 

familiar  to-day,  came  into  fashion.  The  bowl  became 
more  pointed,  the  deepest  part  being  towards  the 
stem,  and  the  end  of  the  handle  was  turned  down 
instead  of  up,  as  heretofore,  while  the  tongue  at  the 
back  of  the  bowl,  known  as  “ the  rat’s  tail,”  was  short- 
ened into  a drop.  This  is  popularly  termed  “ Old 
English”  pattern.  It  lasted  till  the  beginning  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century,  when  it  was  supplanted  by  the 
pattern  known  as  the  “ Fiddle  Head.” 

Another  spoon  that  was  very  popular  in  Georgian 
days  was  used  principally  for  liquor.  The  figure  of  a 
monkey  was  carried  on  the  handle,  and  from  this  it 
took  its  name.  The  monkey-spoon  was  sometimes 
found  in  company  with  the  mourning  ring  and  gloves 
that  were  given  to  the  bearers  at  a funeral.  We  are 
told  that  each  of  the  eight  bearers  received  one  at  the 
funeral  of  Philip  Livingston,  in  1 749. 

The  marrow-spoon  was  also  of  importance.  On 
page  164  several  spoons  of  the  period  appear  with 
other  articles.  The  small  spoons  there  shown  were 
made  by  Isaac  Hutton,  a noted  silversmith  of  Albany, 
and  are  now  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth  of  New 
York.  The  ladle  belonged  to  Helena  Morris  and 
John  Rutherford  (1782),  and  are  now  in  the  Van 
Cortlandt  Museum.  The  little  spoon  in  one  of  the 
salt-cellars  was  made  by  one  Forbes,  also  an  American 
silversmith.  On  the  same  plate  there  is  a funeral 
spoon,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Howard  Townsend.  It 
was  one  of  the  spoons  given  to  the  pall-bearers  at 
the  funeral  of  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  in  1787. 

The  family  silver,  especially  such  as  Monteiths 
tankards,  caudle-cups,  etc.,  was  sometimes  highly 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

prized.  We  should  be  astonished  that  so  little  old 
plate  has  survived  if  we  did  not  know  that  our  fore- 
fathers as  a rule  had  very  little  veneration  for  any- 
thing that  commemorated  the  fashions  of  a former 
day.  Gifts  from  royal  personages,  such  as  the  pieces 
of  plate  given  to  Governor  Burnet  by  the  Electress 
Sophia  for  his  services  to  the  House  of  Hanover,  or 
the  plate  presented  to  Lord  Baltimore  by  Frederick, 


Silver  owned  by  the  Cox  and  Alexander  families  ; now  by  Mrs.  Edward 
Parke  Custis  Lewis.  See  page  142. 


Prince  of  Wales,  were  naturally  cherished,  as  were 
pieces  that  had  sentimental  and  family  associations, 
but,  as  a rule,  when  new  fashions  came  in,  much  of 
the  old  went  to  the  melting-pot. 

Before  1 700,  we  find  English  settlers  sending  their 
plate  to  London  to  be  refashioned  according  to  new 
styles.  Artistic  perception  had  little  to  do  with  this 

156 


Table  Furnishings 

custom.  Sometimes  the  new  fashions  were  inferior 
in  beauty  to  those  they  supplanted.  The  mere  fact 
that  an  article  was  old-fashioned  lowered  its  value. 
In  the  inventories,  old  and  new-fashioned  plate  are 
sometimes  set  down  in  separate  items,  the  former 
being  valued  so  much  less  per  ounce.  It  was  a very 
common  custom  for  a man  to  send  his  old  cups  and 
salvers  to  the  silversmith  when  he  wanted  new  tea- 
pots. A bill  rendered  by  Paul  Revere  is  extant, 
in  which  a tea-pot,  stand  and  some  spoons  came  to 
£15-10-0:  against  this  ,£8-15-0  was  credited  for  a 
salver  containing  25  oz.  of  silver.  The  materials  and 
workmanship  were  charged  separately. 

When  the  stormy  days  of  the  Revolution  arrived, 
people  who  had  wealth  in  the  form  of  plate  had 
reason  to  congratulate  themselves,  for  in  comparison 
with  other  goods  it  was  readily  removable,  and  when 
necessity  arose  it  could  be  easily  hidden.  Much  was 
buried,  and  considerable  ingenuity  was  exercised  to 
keep  it  out  of  the  clutches  of  rapacious  soldiers.  One 
such  case  is  related  in  the  following  letter  written 
by  Mrs.  Alexander  Wallace  to  Gouverneur  Morris, 
Dec.  28,  1 776  : 

“ Mrs.  Hugh  Wallace  is  pretty  well  in  health,  but  very  un- 
happy about  her  husband  being  kept  so  long  from  her,  and 
what  adds  to  her  distress  is  the  very  heavy  loss  she  has  met 
with  about  ten  days  ago  in  losing  all  her  plate.  She  sent  it  to 
Mr.  Richard  Yates  last  summer  at  Aquacknock,  to  be  kept 
there  as  a place  of  safety  ; but  upon  his  leaving  that  place  he 
had  the  box  which  contained  the  plate  put  on  board  a brig, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Roche,  bound  to  this  place.  About  four 
miles  below  Hackinsack  the  brig  was  seized  by  a party  of  your 
army,  and  all  the  goods  taken  out.  The  plate  cost  upwards  of 

157 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

^1500,  this  currency.  She  thinks  the  gentlemen  belonging  to 
the  Convention,  when  they  know  it  belongs  to  her,  will  order 
it  to  be  sent  to  her  immediately,  as  it  would  be  very  hard  in- 
deed to  send  her  husband  away  to  Connecticut  and  allow  her 
property  to  be  plundered.  I must  request  the  favour  of  you 
to  get  this  affair  settled  as  soon  as  possible.  Enclosed  is  an 
inventory  of  the  plate;  it  was  all  in  one  box.” 

“ 1 tea  urn,  1 epergne,  1 very  large  bowl,  4 candlesticks,  1 
large  pudding  dish,  2 large  salvers,  3 small  salvers,  1 large 
tankard,  1 coffee  pot,  1 pitcher,  1 cruet  stand,  4 long  handled 
spoons,  4 scalloped  spoons,  6 dozen  table  spoons,  1 dozen  dessert 
spoons,  1 sugar  dish,  1 funnel,  1 fish  trowel,  6 salts,  2 mustard 
pots  with  spoons,  6 skewers,  2 milk  pots,  1 tea  chest  with  can- 
nisters,  1 sugar  tongs,  4 labels  for  bottles,  4 tumblers,  4 rum- 
mers, 2 black  jacks,  1 large  soup  ladle,  1 marrow  spoon.” 


<i  Smith  Richards,  Grocer  and  Confectioner,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Tea- 
Canister  and  Two  Sugar  Loaves.”  ( 1 7 7 3 - ) 


158 


IV 


pewter,  glassware,  cutlery  and  brass 

Although  silver  was  universally  employed  and 
highly  prized,  as  we  have  seen,  pewter  was  a necessity 
even  in  the  kitchens  of  the  wealthy.  Of  course, 
among  the  lower  classes  it  took  the  place  of  silver  in 
all  parts  of  the  house.  The  number  of  pewterers  in 
New  York  show  how  much  in  demand  this  ware  was. 
Early  in  our  period,  people  could  buy  pewter  articles 
from  James  Leddel  at  the  Sign  of  the  Platter  in 
Dock  Street,  but  in  1744  he  removed  to  the  lower 
end  of  Wall  Street.  Another  pewterer  was  Robert 
Boyle,  who  in  1755  lived  at  the  Sign  of  the  Gilt  Dish 
in  Dock  Street.  William  Bradford,  in  Hanover 
Square,  made  and  sold  “all  kinds  of  pewter  dishes, 
tankards,  tea-pots,  and  coffee  pots.” 

In  the  homes  of  the  rich  and  middle-class  New 
Yorkers,  the  place  of  pewter  was  in  the  kitchen,  where 
it  was  arranged  on  the  dresser  as  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion on  page  160.  This  interesting  piece  of  furni- 
ture came  from  the  Skinner  house  in  Perth  Amboy. 
It  is  now  in  the  kitchen  at  the  Museum  of  the  Colo- 
nial Dames  at  Van  Cortlandt.  Upon  it  stand  some 
good  pieces  of  blue  and  white  china. 

A great  deal  of  pewter  was  in  use  in  the  early  part 
of  the  century.  Some  of  the  wealthy  citizens  who 
owned  plate,  china,  earthenware,  copper  and  brass  pos- 

159 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

sessed  also  many  pounds  of  pewter.  In  1705,  Cap- 
tain William  Smith’s  pewter  was  valued  at  no  less 
than  £20\  and,  as  Cornells  Jacobs  in  1700  had  fifty- 


Dresser  and  three-back  and  four-back  chairs  ; in  the  Museum  of  the  New 
York  Colonial  Dames,  Van  Cortlandt.  See  page  159. 


six  pounds  of  pewter  worth  £2,  we  can  form  some 
idea  as  to  the  quantity  owned  by  Captain  Smith. 
Governor  Burnet’s  pewter  was  worth  as  much  as 
,£100-2-6  ! Pewter  dishes,  plates,  spoons,  tankards 
and  basins,  were  constantly  imported  all  through  our 
period. 


160 


Table  Furnishings 

The  kitchen  of  a New  York  home  frequently  con- 
tained a mixture  of  English  and  Dutch  utensils.  A 
portion  of  the  kitchen  in  the  Van  Cortlandt  house 
appears  on  page  49.  Although  this  is  now  a museum 
kitchen,  a colonial  cook  would  feel  perfectly  at  home 
here,  and  would  not  be  embarrassed  in  preparing  a 
dinner  with  the  utensils  provided.  Among  the  mis- 
cellaneous kitchen  articles  imported  from  time  to 
time,  we  find  “ wafel  irons,”  1750;  coffee  mills,  1 75 1 ; 
sugar-cleavers,  1752  ; corkscrews,  1752  ; bread  baskets, 
1 760  ; polished  copper  chafing-dishes,  1 760  ; copper 
tin  kitchens  with  stands,  1 763  ; baskets  for  plates  and 
baskets  for  knives,  1 765  ; and  after  1 760,  japanned 
plate-warmers,  “very  necessary  in  this  frigid  climate.” 
Then,  too,  we  occasionally  find  some  novelties.  For 
example  in  1 779  : 

“Joseph  Rose  at  No.  104  Water  Street,  a few  doors  east 
of  Peck’s  Slip  has  just  purchased  a quantity  of  tinware  amongst 
which  are  a large  parcel  of  Despatches,  very  suitable  for  gen- 
tlemen of  the  army  or  navy  and  private  families:  they  are 
worthy  of  the  name  of  Despatches,  as  they  will  cook  a beef- 
steak in  about  four  minutes  sufficiently  to  put  on  the  table, 
having  made  the  trial  myself.” 

Braziers  were  numerous,  as  was  natural  enough 
when  one  remembers  the  great  use  of  brass  hearth- 
furniture  and  the  various  utensils  of  copper  and  brass 
that  were  used  in  the  kitchen,  to  say  nothing  of 
warming-pans,  candlesticks,  bird-cages,  etc.  Most  of 
the  artisans  came  from  London,  and  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  articles  of  brass,  iron  and  copper  were 
constantly  being  imported,  a great  deal  of  work  was 
done  in  New  York.  For  instance,  in  1743  : 

12  161 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“John  Halden,  brasier  from  London,  near  the  Old  Slip 
Market  in  New  York,  makes  and  sells  all  sorts  of  copper  and 
brass  kettles,  tea  kettles,  coffee  potts,  pye  pans,  warming  pans, 
and  all  other  sorts  of  copper  and  brass  ware;  also  sells  all 
sorts  of  hard  metal  and  pewter  wares.” 

Notwithstanding  the  increasing  demand  for  grates 
and  stoves  as  the  century  advanced,  the  open  wood 
fire  never  lost  its  popularity.  We  find  another  brazier 
as  late  as  1770,  Jacob  Wilkins  at  the  Sign  of  the 
Brass  Andiron  and  Candlestick,  in  the  Main  Street, 
offering  “ a few  brass  fenders  plain  and  open  work  of 
different  patterns.” 

An  excellent  specimen  of  the  brass  hearth  furni- 
ture of  the  period  appears  on  page  266.  Nothing  of 
its  history  is  known  except  that  it  belonged  to  Betty 
Washington  Lewis,  the  sister  of  Gen.  Washington, 
and  was  in  her  home  at  Kenmore,  Fredericksburg,  Va. 
The  shovel  and  tongs  are  placed  on  a stand  with  a 
marble  block  grooved  for  their  accommodation.  They 
are  owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis  of 
Hoboken,  N.  J. 

Boxes  of  glass,  containing  wine-glasses,  salt-cellars, 
sugar-dishes,  cream-pots  and  tumblers  were  sold  by 
Edward  Nicoll,  on  the  New  Dock  in  1757.  An  ad- 
vertisement of  1762  gives  a good  idea  of  the  variety 
of  articles  of  this  nature  that  were  to  be  seen  on  the 
tables  of  well-to-do  citizens.  This  new  importation 
consisted  of  “ neat  flowered  wine  and  water-glasses, 
glass  salvers,  silver  top  cruet  stands,  a few  neat  and 
small  enamelled  shank  wine  glasses,  flowered,  scal- 
loped and  plain  decanters,  jugs  and  mugs,  salver  and 
pyramids,  jelly  and  silly  bub  glasses,  flowered,  plain 

162 


Table  Furnishings 

and  enamelled  wine  glasses,  glasses  for  silver,  salts 
and  sweetmeat,  poles  with  spires  and  glasses,  smelling 
bottles,  sconces,  tulip  and  flower  glasses  of  the  new- 
est patterns,  finger  bowls  and  tumblers  of  all  sorts.” 
Drinking  - glasses  of  the  period  are  shown  on  page 
348. 

The  larger  one,  a goblet,  standing  on  a square 
base,  and  cut  with  a festoon  for  ornament,  belonged 
to  Brigadier  - General  William  Livingston  (1723- 
1790),  Governor  of  New  Jersey.  This  is  owned  by 
his  descendant,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Walker  of  Nyack,  New 
York.  The  other,  a wine-glass,  which  also  has  a 
square  base,  is  owned  by  Miss  Anne  Van  Cortlandt, 
of  Croton-on-the-Hudson,  New  York.  The  two  glass 
salt-cellars  in  the  illustration  on  page  164,  are  in  the 
Museum  of  the  New  York  Colonial  Dames  at  Van 
Cortlandt.  A group  of  glass  articles  of  this  date 
on  page  232  are  owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Parke  Cus- 
tis  Lewis  of  “ Castle  Point,”  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  and 
consists  of  decanters,  sweetmeat  glasses,  so  frequently 
mentioned  among  the  importations  of  the  day,  four 
wine-glasses  and  a tumbler.  The  five  last  articles 
belonged  to  Gen.  Washington  and  descended  to  Col. 
Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis.  The  tumbler  in  the 
centre  is  delicately  engraved  with  deer  sporting  in  a 
forest  glade. 

Glassware  was  used  in  New  York  very  early.  It 
frequently  appears  in  the  inventories,  but  is  seldom 
described.  Col.  William  Smith  in  1709,  had  a case 
of  Venice  glasses  worth  £3  ; a large  case  and  bot- 
tles, worth  ^3,  and  3 large  cases  and  bottles,  £$. 
Joseph  Bueno  (1709),  owned  3 glass  cups.  On  Oct. 

163 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

7,  1754,  the  following  notice  appeared  in  one  of  the 
newspapers  : 

“ Thomas  Lepper,  storekeeper  to  the  Glass  House  Com- 
pany, sells  all  sorts  of  bottles  from  1 quart  to  3 gallons  and 
upwards,  as  also  a variety  of  other  glassware.  . . . All  gentle- 
men that  wants  bottles  of  any  size  with  their  names  on  them 
. . . may  have  them  made  with  all  expedition.” 

This  advertisement  is  interesting  in  connection 
with  the  illustration  on  page  348,  upon  which  are 


Table  furniture  of  the  period.  See  pages  155  and  163. 

represented  three  bottles  of  the  kind  that  Mr.  Lepper 
was  able  to  furnish.  These,  however,  were  made  ten 
years  later.  The  large  bottle  on  the  left  bears  the 
name  and  date  “ Sidney  Breese,  1765.”  This  is  owned 

164 


Table  Furnishings 

by  the  Museum  of  the  Colonial  Dames  at  Van  Cort- 
landt,  New  York.  The  madeira  bottle,  on  the  right, 
has  the  inscription  “ F.  V.  C.  1765”  enclosed  in  a 
heart  raised  on  the  glass,  and  standing  for  Frederic 
Van  Cortlandt. 

The  constant  importations  of  decanters,  castors 
with  silver  tops,  “ cruet  ” or  “ cruit  ” stands  and 
“frames,”  tumblers  and  glasses  for  water,  wine  and 
beer,  cream-jugs,  syllabub  and  sweetmeat  glasses, 
prove  how  abundantly  glass  was  used  on  tables.  A 
set  of  cruets  in  a plated  stand  now  owned  by  Mrs.  F. 
H.  Bosworth  appear  on  page  321.  On  the  same  page 
is  a perforated  cake-basket  and  an  old  soup-tureen. 

The  table  furniture  not  only  consisted  of  rich 
silver,  china,  and  glass,  but  we  note  many  small  arti- 
cles of  luxury,  such  as  nutcrackers  in  1 750 ; ivory 
nutmeg  graters,  1753;  tea-tongs  and  punch-strainers 
in  1759;  finger-bowls  in  1762;  table-bells,  1767;  and 
“steak-tongs  and  sugar-hatchets”  in  1779.  The  fash- 
ionable New  Yorkers  thought  it  necessary  to  keep 
up  with  London  styles  in  everything,  even  in  such  a 
small  matter  as  cutlery.  Cutlers’  advertisements  in 
the  papers  are  many.  They  always  make  a point  of 
assuring  customers  that  they  have,  or  will  make,  arti- 
cles according  to  the  latest  London  fashion.  We 
find  one  Thomas  Brown  removing  in  1 743  from 
Hanover  Square  to  Broad  Street,  corner  of  Stone 
Street,  near  the  Long  Bridge;  and  in  1752  “Edward 
Andrews,  cutler,  who  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
famous  Mr.  Henry  Jones  of  Sweethings  Alley,  by  the 
Royal  Exchange,  London,  arrived  in  this  place  last 
week  in  the  Irene .”  He  offered  to  serve  people  at  his 

165 


Mahogany  knife-boxes  and  spoon-case,  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bos  worth. 


Table  Furnishings 

shop  near  the  Merchant’s  Coffee  House,  and  “sells 
and  makes  all  kinds  of  Cutlery  work  in  the  newest 
fashions  now  in  vogue  in  London.”  Among  his 
choice  goods,  he  calls  attention  to  “ the  noted  Con- 
stantinople Razor  Cases  and  Strops.”  Specimens  of 
the  black-handled  knives  and  forks  ordinarily  in  use 
are  shown  on  page  164. 

Knives,  forks  and  spoons  were  kept  in  shagreen 
cases,  generally  green,  but  sometimes  blue ; some  of 
the  handsomest  of  these  were  lined  with  red  velvet 
from  which  the  ornamental  handles  of  silver,  silver 
gilt,  white  or  green  ivory,  or  decorated  china  were 
shown  off  to  advantage.  The  shagreen  case  came  in 
very  early  in  the  century  and  continued  in  use  until 
it  was  supplanted  by  the  mahogany  boxes  of  the 
same  general  shape.  If  we  may  judge  from  the 
following  advertisement  the  latter  began  to  appear 
about  1 767  : 

“John  Clark,  shagreen  case  maker  from  London,  next  door 
to  Mr.  Seckell’s,  Cooper,  in  Ferry  Street,  near  Peck’s  Slip  Mar- 
ket, makes  and  sells  all  sorts  of  shagreen  cases  for  knives  and 
forks,  both  in  shagreen  and  mahogany,  and  cases  for  Plate, 
Lady’s  Dressing-Boxes,  Necklaces  and  Jewel  Cases,  Buckle 
cases  and  Razor  Cases  of  all  Sorts.” 

These  cases,  of  course,  contained  a series  of  com- 
partments, as  shown  in  the  example  to  the  left  on  page 
166,  which  also  shows  one  closed  and  an  urn-shaped 
spoon-case.  The  knives  were  placed  with  their  handles 
upward.  Cutlery  was  constantly  changing  in  fashion  ; 
ivory-handled  knives  and  forks,  white  split  bone,  buck 
and  black  handles  were  imported  in  1 750  ; china-han- 
dled knives  and  forks  mounted  in  silver,  in  shagreen 

167 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

cases,  were  sold  by  Reuben  W.  Thompson,  in  Smith’s 
Fly,  in  1752;  “newest  fashioned  silver  and  ebony- 
handled  table  knives  and  forks  in  shagreen  cases,”  in 
1 760  ; camwood-handled  knives  and  three-pronged 
forks,  in  1 768  ; sets  of  knives,  forks,  and  spoons  com- 
plete in  cases,  in  1771  ; knife,  fork,  and  spoon  in  a 
shagreen  case  for  the  pocket,  in  1771  ; knife-trays  in 
1772  ; knife-cases  of  fish-skin,  in  1774. 


James  Youle,  Cutler,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Golden  Knife.”  (1774.) 


168 


PART  IV 

COSTUMES  OF  MEN 


PART  IV 


COSTUMES  OF  MEN 


I 

THE  MAN  OF  FASHION:  HIS  WIGS  AND  HATS 

There  is  a general  impression  that  people  on  this 
side  of  the  water  scorned  dress  and  fashion  in  Colonial 
times,  and  that  the  beau  was  a type  entirely  unknown. 
It  is  erroneous.  The  people  who  frequented  the  balls 
and  assemblies,  routs,  tea-gardens  and  coffee-houses  of 
New  York  closely  followed  London  fashions. 

We  shall  presently  see  that  men  had  every  oppor- 
tunity to  procure  fashionable  clothes  and  to  have  them 
cut  in  the  latest  European  styles.  Even  more  con- 
vincing it  is  to  find  contemporary  evidence  of  the 
existence  of  gallant  and  smart  dress.  Although  the 
author  of  the  following  contribution  to  the  New  York 
Mercury , under  date  of  Jan.  31,  1757,  complains  of 
the  tyranny  of  fashion,  his  protests  merely  prove  how 
universal  was  the  fop  and  how  unattractive  the  man 
who  was  “out  of  the  mode.”  Incidentally,  he  gives 
us  quite  a correct  idea  of  the  fashions  of  the  time 
and  of  what  the  woman  of  fashion  demanded  in  the 
opposite  sex.  The  writer  did  all  he  could  to  please 
her,  even  to  the  adoption  of  the  “fierce  Cave  Nullo 
cock,”  which,  of  course,  is  the  Kevenhuller  hat  de- 

171 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

scribed  on  page  178,  and  resigned  himself  to  the 
care  of  a fashionable  hairdresser.  He  writes  as 
follows  : 

“I  am  a bachelor  turned  of  thirty,  in  easy  circumstances, 
and  want  nothing  but  a wife  to  make  me  as  happy  as  my  neigh- 
bours. 

“ 1 have  long  admired  a young  lady  who,  I can  with  great 
propriety,  call  Miss  Modish;  though  for  her  unreasonable  con- 
duct to  me  she  deserves  to  have  her  real  name  exposed  in 
capitals.  She  has  a mind  capable  of  every  improvement  and 
graces  of  her  sex  ; and  were  it  not  for  an  excessive  fondness 
for  gaiety  and  the  reigning  amusements  of  the  town,  would  be 
unexceptionably  lovely. 

“ To  this  fair  one  I have  most  obsequiously  paid  my  ad- 
dresses for  these  last  four  years;  and  had  I been  a Beau,  or 
she  less  a Belle , I should  undoubtedly  long  since  have  suc- 
ceeded ; for  fashions,  cards  and  assemblies  were  the  only  things 
in  which  we  did  not  perfectly  agree.  But  whenever  these  were 
the  subject  of  conversation,  we  were  as  certainly  ruffled  and 
out  of  temper.  On  these  occasions  she  would  tell  me,  ‘She 
was  astonished  I would  dispute  with  her,  when  every  genteel 
person  was  of  her  opinion.  That  one  might  be  as  well  out  of  the 
world  as  out  of  the  mode.  For  her  part,  she  could  never  think  of 
managing  a man  who  was  so  obstinately  awkward  and  impolite, 
let  his  other  accomplishments  be  ever  so  refined.  I dressed  like 
a clown,  and  hardly  ever  waited  on  her  to  a public  diversion ; and 
indeed  when  I did,  she  was  in  pain  for  me,  I behaved  so  queer. 
She  had  no  notion  at  her  age,  of  sacrificing  all  the  dear  pleas- 
ures of  routs,  hops  and  quadrille  for  a philosophical  husband. 
No,  if  I expected  to  make  myself  agreeable  to  her  I must  learn 
to  dress  gallant  and  be  smart.'  Now,  truth  is,  I can’t  dance,  and 
have  an  unconquerable  aversion  to  foppery.  In  order  to  form 
me  to  her  taste,  Miss  Modish  has  always  most  obstinately  in- 
sisted on  my  complying  with  every  idle  fashion  that  has  been 
introduced  since  my  acquaintance  with  her,  under  the  severe 
penalty  of  never  hoping  for  her  love,  if  I did  not  implicitly  obey. 
This,  with  infinite  reluctance  and  mortification,  I have  been 

172 


Costumes  of  Men 


under  the  hard  necessity  of  doing.  I remember,  when  high 
brimmed  hats  were  in  the. mode,  she  insisted  on  an  elevation  of 
my  beaver  of  near  half  an  inch  with  a fierce  Cave  Nullo  cock. 
The  taste  changed,  and  she  would  hardly  allow  me  enough  to 
protect  my  phiz  from  the  in- 
clemency of  the  weather.  My 
coat,  when  coatees  flourished, 
was  reduced  to  the  size  of  a 
dwarf’s,  and  then  again  in- 
creased to  the  longitude  of  a 
surtout.  The  cuffs  in  the  win- 
ter were  made  open,  for  the 
benefit  of  taking  in  the  cool 
north  weather ; in  the  summer 
again  they  were  close,  to  pre- 
vent the  advantage  of  the  re- 
freshing breeze.  In  the  sum- 
mer, I was  smothered  with  a 
double  cravat : in  the  winter, 
relieved  again  with  a single 
cambric  neckcloth.  It  would 
be  tedious  to  repeat  the  many 
surprising  and  ridiculous 
changes  I underwent  in  the 
outward  man  ; let  it  suffice  to 
observe  that  my  wigs,  ruffles, 
shoes,  and  every  little  par- 
ticular, not  excepting  my 
breeches,  have  shared  'the 
same  unaccountable  metamor- 
phosis, all  which  grievous  fop- 
pery, my  excessive  fondness 

for  her  made  me  suffer  with  Christian  resignation  ; but  at  last 
she  has  fairly  exhausted  my  patience,  and  we  are  now  come  to 
an  open  rupture,  the  occasion  of  which  was  this  : We  unhappily 
fell  into  the  old  topic  of  my  want  of  taste  and  breeding.  ‘ You 
will  always, ’ says  she,  1 be  an  old-fashioned  creature .’  (I  had  un- 
luckily called  her  My  dear).  1 Lord,  can’t  you  take  pattern 

173 


Miniature  of  Lewis  Morris  (1641— 
1746),  owned  by  Mrs.  Ostran- 
der. See  page  176. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


after  Mr.  Foppington  ? How  happy  must  a lady  be  in  such  an 
admirer  I He’s  always  easy  and  good  humoured,  and  pays  the 
finest  compliments  of  any  gentleman  in  the  universe  ! How 
elegantly  he  dresses ! And  then  he  sings  like  an  angel  and 
dances  to  perfection  ; and  as  for  his  hair,  I never  saw  any- 
thing so  exquisitely  fine.  Surely  the  hair  is  the  most  valuable 
part  of  a man  ! ’ 

“ From  this  teasing  introduction,  she  took  occasion  to  insist 
on  my  wearing  my  hair;  observing  that  I could  not  refuse  it, 
since  I saw  how  pleasing  it  would  be  to  her.  I used  all  the 
arguments  I could  to  divert  her  from  this  unreasonable  request ; 
but  she  peremptorily  declared  she  would  never  speak  to  me 
again  if  I denied  her  so  small  a favour;  it  was  an  insult  on  the 
prerogative  of  her  sex  and  a convincing  proof  that  I neither 
loved  her,  nor  merited  her  esteem.  I remonstrated,  in  vain, 
that  even  if  I was  inclined  to  play  the  fool , and  put  my  head, 
which  as  it  happened  I could  not  well  spare,  into  the  hands  of 
Monsieur  Piermont,  I was  well  assured  that  all  the  skill  and 
industry  of  that  eminent  artist  would  never  change  it  from  its 
native  red,  or  form  a single  curl,  for  that  ever  since  I was  six 
years  old,  it  had  been  condemned  to  be  close  shorn,  as  incapa- 
ble of  affording  a creditable  covering  to  my  pericranium.  In  a 
passion  she  desired  never  to  see  me  more : she  would  not  put 
up  with  such  contradictions  in  any  gentleman  who  pretended 
to  be  her  admirer.” 

The  dressing-table  of  the  gentleman  of  the  period 
was  equipped  with  every  article  of  the  toilet  known 
to-day,  and  with  a vast  array  of  cosmetics,  essences, 
oils,  butters,  pomatums  and  powders,  with  which  the 
most  fashionable  man  of  the  present  day  is  unfamiliar. 
The  latter,  however,  would  not  scorn  “ the  complete 
set  of  shaving  utensils  in  shagreen  cases,”  “ the  sha- 
green two  and  four-hole  razor  cases  completely  filled,” 
that  could  be  bought  from  James  Wilmot  at  the 
Golden  Fleece,  Hanover  Square,  nor  the  “complete 
shaving  equipages,  holding  razors,  scissors,  hones,  pen- 

174 


Costumes  of  Men 

knives,  combs,  oil-bottle,  brush  and  soap  box,  with 
places  for  paper,  pens  and  ink.”  These  were  made 
of  japanned  ware,  straw,  red,  or  blue  Morocco,  or 
shagreen.  “Fish-skin  razor  cases”  were  also  to  be 
had,  as  well  as  “nail  nippers,”  “neat  Morocco  tweese 
cases,”  and  boxes  for  wigs,  wig-ribbons,  cravats, 
hats,  etc. 

Dressing  was  as  serious  an  occupation  for  men  as 
for  women.  The  man  of  fashion  spent  a great  deal  of 
time  upon  his  toilet  and  then  upon  his  self-adornment, 
and  what  was  true  of  the  beau,  was,  to  a great  extent, 
true  of  every  man  of  affluence  and  position.  The 
arrangement  of  the  wig  alone  consumed  a great 
amount  of  time  ; for  the  gentlemen,  unlike  the  ladies, 
had  their  hair  dressed  every  day.  Some  of  them  put 
their  curls  up  in  papers  at  night  and  used  curling- 
tongs  the  next  day.  The  barber,  of  course,  was  re- 
quired, for  what  man  could  have  arranged  upon  his 
own  head  any  one  of  the  varieties  in  fashion  in  1753, 
such  as  the  pigeons  wing,  the  comet,  the  cauliflower, 
the  royal  bird,  the  staircase,  the  ladder,  the  brush, 
the  wild  boar’s  back,  the  temple,  the  rhinoceros, 
the  corded  wolf’s  paw,  Count  Saxe’s  mode,  the  she- 
dragon,  the  rose,  the  crutch,  the  negligent,  the  chan- 
cellor, the  cut-bob,  the  long  bob,  the  half  natural,  the 
chain-buckle,  the  corded  buckle,  the  detached  buckle, 
the  Jansenist  bob,  the  drop  wig,  the  snail  back,  the 
spinach  seed,  and  the  artichoke  ? 

On  Oct.  22,  1753,  John  Bury,  at  the  Crown  and 
Shears,  in  Beaver  Street,  announced  that  he  had  im- 
ported “ a neat  assortment  of  hairs  of  all  sorts  for 
perukes,”  and  in  1754,  we  read  : 

i75 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“ This  is  to  inform  all  Gentlemen  and  Ladies  who  have 
honoured  Mr.  David  Cox  with  their  custom  that  the  same 
business  is  now  carried  on  at  the  same  shop  next  door  to  the 
Kings  Arms  Tavern  and  opposite  the  Royal  Exchange,  by 
Timothy  Powell,  hair-curler  and  peruke-maker  from  London, 
who  has  just  imported  an  assortment  of  English  hairs;  where 
all  Gentlemen  who  are  pleased  to  favour  me  with  their  orders, 
may  have  all  sorts  of  perukes,  viz.  Tyes,  bags,  drest  or  cut 
bobs  at  the  most  reasonable  rates  and  made  in  the  genteelest 
and  newest  fashion.  . . . 

“ N.  B.  Ladies  Tates  and  towers  made  in  the  genteelest 
and  newest  manner.” 

Previous  to  this  date,  the  wigs  had  been  the  full- 
bottomed,  the  tie,  or  Ramilies,  the  bag  and  the  bob 
wigs,  major  and  minor.  The  full-bottomed  is  that  of 
the  flowing  curls  familiar  since  the  days  of  William 
and  Mary  and  Queen  Anne,  and  which  is  worn  by 
Col.  Lewis  Morris  on  page  173.  This  was  out  of 
fashion  by  1739. 

The  Ramilies,*  invented  by  some  enterprising  bar- 
ber after  the  Battle  of  Ramilies  (May  23,  1706),  con- 
sisted of  a bushy  head,  well  powdered,  arranged  at 
the  back  in  a braided  pig-tail  or  queue , and  tied  at 
the  top  with  a large  bow  of  ribbon  and  at  the  bottom 
with  a smaller  one.  The  bag-wig  is  thought  to  have 
had  its  origin  with  the  French  servants  who  tied  up 
their  hair  when  they  were  doing  their  work. 

Gentlemen’s  bags  were  always  of  silk  or  satin. 
This  style  was  much  affected  by  doctors  and  lawyers. 

About  1774  it  was  said  that  a small  man’s  shoul- 
ders were  “perfectly  covered  with  black  satin.”  The 

* A good  example  of  the  Ramilies  wig  occurs  in  Hogarth’s  Modern- 
Midnight  Conversation  and  Taste  in  High  Life  in  the  Year  1742. 

176 


Costumes  of  Men 

bob  wig  was  less  ornate,  being  an  imitation  of  the 
real  head  of  hair,  and  it  was  worn  by  the  common 
people  ; the  major  bob  had  several  rows  of  curls. 

During  the  reigns  of  George  II.  and  George  III., 
the  bag  and  the  Ramilies  were,  perhaps,  the  favourite 
wigs,  but  there  was  still  another, — “ the  pigeon  winged 
toupee,”  mentioned  in  1753,  which  developed  into 
the  extraordinary  Macaroni  toupee,  that  was  brushed 
erect  about  a foot  above  the  forehead  and  plastered 
with  pomatum.  It  was  ornamented  with  large  curls 
at  either  side  and  gathered  at  the  back  into  a large 
club-shaped  knot  that  rested  on  the  back  of  the  neck. 

We  may  be  certain  that  all  of  these  styles  were 
worn  in  New  York,  by  glancing  at  a few  advertise- 
ments. In  1750,  we  find  the  following: 

“ This  is  to  acquaint  the  Publick,  that  there  is  lately  arrived 
from  London,  the  Wonder  of  the  World,  an  honest  Barber  and 
Peruke-Maker,  who  might  have  worked  for  the  King  if  his 
Majesty  would  have  employ’d  him:  It  was  not  for  the  Want 

of  Money  that  he  came  here,  for  he  had  enough  of  that  at 
Home;  nor  for  the  Want  of  Business,  that  he  advertises  him- 
self. But  to  acquaint  the  Gentlemen  and  Ladies  That  such  a 
Person  is  now  in  town  living  near  Rosemary  Lane,  where 
Gentlemen  and  Ladies  may  be  supplied  with  the  Goods  as  fol- 
lows, viz.,  Tyes,  Full  Bottoms,  Majors,  Spencers,  Fox  Tails, 
Ramalies,  Tucks,  Cuts  and  Bob  Perukes;  also  Ladies  Tatema- 
tongues  and  Towers,  after  the  Manner  that  is  now  worn  at 
Court.  By  their  humble  and  obedient  Servant,  John  Still.” 

Passing  by  many  other  eminent  “ artists  ” in  the 
hair-dressing  line,  we  may  note  the  styles  of  1761  : 

“To  be  sold  at  Duthie’s  London  Peruke  Warehouse  all 
sorts  of  Perukes  ready  made  of  the  newest  Fashions,  at  the 
lowest  prices  that  can  be  afforded  by  any  one  of  the  Business 
that  does  Justice  to  his  Customers,  and  warranted  to  be  of  as 

177 


13 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

good  Hairs  and  as  good  Work  as  any  in  America.  Also  Ladies’ 
Teatts,  Bandoas  for  the  Hair,  and  Bags  of  the  newest  Fashion, 
Roapeats,  Ramelleas,  and  hard  and  soft  Pomatum,  false  Ques 
and  many  other  Articles  necessary  in  that  Way.” 

We  cannot  take  leave  of  the  wig  without  describ- 
ing the  cocked  hat,  which  remained  in  fashion  until 
1 789.  There  were  many  varieties : indeed,  a man 
was  always  known  by  the  cock  of  his  hat.  The  most 
fashionable  was  the  one  trimmed  with  gold  lace  and 
feathers  ; but  hardly  less  so  was  the  hat  worn  with 
the  Ramilies  wig  and  known  as  the  “ Ramilies  cock.” 
A plainer  one  accorded  with  the  bag-wig,  while  the 
“ Kevenhuller,”  extremely  large  and  aggressive  and 
decorated  with  a cockade,  was  worn  by  officers  and 
gentlemen  swaggerers  : 

“ When  Anna  ruled  and  Kevenhuller  fought, 

The  hat  its  title  from  the  hero  caught.” 

It  long  continued  popular.  The  Nivernois  was  small, 
as  was  that  affected  by  the  Macaroni,  and  it  had  a 
small  crown,  to  which  small  flaps  were  attached.  In 
addition  to  these  varieties,  there  was  also  a folding 
theatre  hat.  Hats  were  round  in  1770,  and  in  1772 
are  described  as  “rising  behind  and  falling  before.” 
New  Yorkers  were  just  as  fastidious  about  their 
head-gear  as  Londoners.  Castor  and  felt  hats,  fine 
castor  hats  and  gold  laced  hats  were  imported  in  great 
numbers,  and  in  1762  there  was  a special  invoice  of 
“gentlemen’s  superfine  laced  and  plain  hats  dressed 
and  cock’d  by  the  most  fashionable  hatter  in  Eng- 
land.” In  addition  to  these,  we  find  mens  velvet 
caps,  single  and  double  striped  worsted  caps,  flowered 
and  plain  scarlet  caps,  men  and  boys’  castor  and  felt 

178 


Costumes  of  Men 


hats,  men’s  velvet  morning  caps,  and  velvet  hunting 
caps  constantly  among  the  importations. 

After  the  gentleman’s  hair  was  dressed  and  thor- 
oughly  sprinkled  with  grey  or  blue  powder,  heavily 
scented,  there  were  other  difficult  tasks  to  perform. 


Silver  tankard,  paste  knee-buckles,  gold  seals,  walking-stick  and  coat 
buttons,  belonging  to  William  Beekman  ; and  a piece  of  rose- 
coloured  brocade.  Seepages  137,  183  and  193. 


One  of  these  was  the  tying  of  his  Barcelona  or  India 
muslin  cravat,  the  adjusting  of  his  stock  and  stock 
buckle,  or  the  arrangement  of  his  “ solitaire,” — a loose 
black  ribbon  fastened  to  the  bag-wig  and  brought 
around  the  neck  in  front.  After  scenting  his  plain 
or  flowered  silk  handkerchief  with  some  strong  per- 
fume, preferably  musk,  filling  his  snuff-box,  fastening 
his  sword  to  his  side  and  taking  his  walking-stick  or 
cane  in  his  hand,  he  would  tuck  his  beaver  under  his 
arm  and  sally  forth  to  Ranelagh  or  Vauxhall  Gar- 

179 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


dens,  to  a public  vendue,  to  pay  a social  call,  to  meet 
his  friends  at  one  of  the  coffee-houses,  to  look  after 
his  business  affairs,  or  to  make  some  purchases,  if  he 
had  read  some  such  tempting  notice  as  : 

“ Rivington  and  Brown,  in  Hanover  Square,  have  this  day 
imported  from  London  in  the  ships  Manchester  and  Edward, 
Gentlemens  laced  and  plain  hats,  dress’d  and  cock’d  by  the 
most  fashionable  hatter  in  England  ; genteel  boots,  spur  leath- 
ers, and  doe-skin  boot  straps  with  handsome  buckles.  The 
most  beautiful  double  gilt  pinchbeck  buckles  for  shoes  and 
knees;  paper  snuff-boxes  finely  painted  and  gilt;  best  Stras- 
burg  snuff  and  rappee;  fine  high  dried  snuff,  commonly  called 
Black  Guard ; shaving  equipage  containing  razors,  scissars, 
penknives,  combs,  hones,  oil  bottle,  brush  and  soap  box,  with 
places  for  paper,  pens  and  ink  ; elegant  tooth-pick  cases  with 
best  Lisbon  tooth  picks.  ...  A choice  assortment  of  jewelry, 
paste  buckles,  earrings,  solitairs,  necklaces,  stay-hooks,  gold 
rings,  seals,  broaches,  gold  buttons,  ettwees,  etc.” 


“ Nesbitt  Deane,  Hats.”  (1774.) 


80 


II 


THE  CLOTHES  MEN  WORE 

And  now,  if  it  be  asked  how  our  exquisite,  who, 
until  1749,  was  known  as  a “Fribble,”  was  dressed, 
we  shall  have  to  note  that  about  1 727-1  730  he  wore 
black  velvet  breeches,  a Ramilies  wig,  a coat  that 
fitted  very  smartly  and  was  buttoned  tightly  at  the 
waist,  trimmed  with  lace,  and  open  from  the  neck  to 
the  waist  to  show  the  lace  ruffles  beneath  it.  He  had 
an  array  of  buttons,  his  sleeve  was  finished  with  a 
deep  cuff,  and  his  wrists  were  adorned  with  ruffles. 
His  waistcoat  was  long,  and  adorned  with  buttons 
and  flaps.  His  shoes  were  gay  with  red  heels,  his 
silk  stockings  had  gold  clocks,  his  hat  was  a cocked 
beaver,  and  he  wore  a sword  and  carried  a cane  deco- 
rated with  tassels. 

The  clothes  that  Gov.  Montgomerie  wore  con- 
formed to  the  above  in  every  detail.  Among  them 
were  cambric  ruffled  shirts,  dimity  vests,  a scarlet 
coat  and  breeches  trimmed  with  gold  lace,  a cloth 
suit  with  open  silver  lace,  silk  stockings  with  clocks, 
a gold-headed  cane,  and  several  wigs. 

A few  years  later,  the  coat  had  grown  longer, 
reaching  to  the  calf  of  the  leg,  fitting  as  tightly  at 
the  waist  as  ever,  and  just  as  profusely  adorned  with 
buttons.  The  cuff,  now  somewhat  smaller  at  the 
wrist,  reached  to  the  elbow,  and  a broad  collar  turned 

181 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

over  and  lay  low  upon  the  shoulders.  The  coat  was 
still  open,  showing  the  ruffle  or  frill  of  the  shirt. 

About  1 744,  there  was  a slight  change.  The  coat 
was  no  longer  laced,  although  a plain  band  of  lace  was 
retained  upon  the  still  ample  waistcoat.  The  skirts 
of  the  coat  were  lined  with  stiff  buckram,  or  canvas, 
and  stood  out  in  rigid  folds,  and  still  fell  below  the 
knee.  The  stockings  were  drawn  over  the  knee 
and  just  met  the  breeches,  ornamented  as  before  with 
glittering  buckles.  In  1753,  a writer  exclaimed  : 

“What  gentleman  now  rolls  his  stockings?  or  lets  his 
breeches  cover  the  cap  of  his  knee  ? Who  suffers  his  coat-skirts 
to  hang  low  enough  to  hide  his  thighs  ? or,  who  dare  appear 
now  with  high-topped  gloves?  Are  not,  even  on  the  stage,  full 
bottoms  discouraged  ? Nay,  a Brigadier  is  as  unseemly ; the 
scratch  usurps  the  throne  of  long-bobs,  and  a tye-wig  is  banished 
for  a pigeon-winged  toupee.  But  the  hats — the  hats,  gentlemen, 
suffer  most.  Is  not  the  Dettingen  cock  forgotten  ? the  noble 
Kevenhuller  discouraged  ? Are  not  hats  brought  down  to  caps  ? 
and  ladies,  who  will  exceed  in  extremes,  disdain  to  wear  caps 
at  all.” 

At  the  beginning  of  George  III.’s  reign,  our  beau 
decorated  his  coat  and  waistcoat  with  a profusion  of 
lace,  and  wore  a small  black  cravat.  Otherwise,  his 
costume  suffered  no  change.  The  costume  of  1 766 
is  well  hinted  at  in  Anstey’s  New  Bath  Guide , when 
Simkin  dresses  himself  in  the  latest  fashion.  He 
writes  home  : 

“For  I ride  in  a chair,  with  my  hands  in  a muff, 

And  have  bought  a silk  coat  and  embroidered  the  cuff ; 

But  the  weather  was  cold,  and  the  coat  it  was  thin, 

So  the  tailor  advised  me  to  line  it  with  skin  : 

But  what  with  my  Nivernois’  hat  can  compare 
Bag-wig,  and  laced  ruffles,  and  black  solitaire  ? 

182 


Costumes  of  Men 


And  what  can  a man  of  true  fashion  denote, 

Like  an  ell  of  good  riband  tyed  under  the  throat  ? 
My  buckles  and  box  are  in  exquisite  taste, 

The  one  is  of  paper,  the  other  of  paste.” 


The  next  and  last  change  was  a violent  one.  In 
1770,  the  Macaroni  appeared,  whose  style  of  head 
dress  we  have  already  described.  He  cut  his  coat 
much  shorter  and  left  it  unfastened  to  show  his  waist- 
coat, also  shortened  till  it  reached  the  waist  only. 
His  two  watches,  with 
their  dangling  seals,  hung 
from  his  pockets ; and  a 
large  white  neckerchief 
was  tied  in  a full  bow 
beneath  his  chin.  The 
turnover  collar  of  his  coat 
was  small.  The  latter 
fitted  snugly  and  was  or- 
namented with  lace  or 
braid,  embroidery,  frogs 
and  sometimes  tassels.  His 
tight  breeches  of  striped 
or  spotted  silk  reached  to 
the  knee  and  were  tied 
with  bunches  of  ribbons 
or  strings.  Small  paste  or 
diamond  buckles  adorned 
his  shoes,  and  his  stockings,  of  course,  were  of  silk. 
Upon  his  enormous  toupee,  was  perched  a tiny  hat, 
which  he  removed  with  his  cane  when  necessary. 
The  latter  was  decorated  with  tassels.  A sword  also 
dangled  at  his  side. 


William  Beekman  (1725—1795). 
From  a portrait  in  possession 
of  the  Beekman  family.  See 


page  193. 


183 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

He  was  a very  curious  object  and  did  not  escape 
caricatures  and  lampoons  of  all  kinds.  The  Oxford 
Magazine  for  I770  said:  “A  kind  of  animal,  neither 
male  nor  female,  lately  started  up  amongst  us.  It  is 
called  a Macaroni.  It  talks  without  meaning,  it  smiles 
without  pleasantry,  it  eats  without  appetite,  it  rides 
without  exercise.”  The  type  originated  about  1770, 
when  a number  of  fashionable  young  Englishmen 
who  had  made  the  “Grand  Tour,”  formed  themselves, 
on  their  return,  into  a club,  which  they  named  in 
honour  of  Italy’s  favourite  dish.  From  the  Macaroni 
Club  they  took  their  name,  and  they  carried  extrava- 
gance in  fashion,  in  dress,  and  in  manner  to  the  verge 
of  absurdity.  In  r 772-3,  they  altered  their  costume 
slightly,  combing  their  hair  still  higher  above  their 
foreheads  in  an  oval  shape,  with  large  curls  above 
each  ear.  They  also  wore  knots  of  flowers  upon  their 
breasts. 

Horace  Walpole  noticed  them  in  1772,  fathering 
them  upon  Lord  Clive.  “ Lord  Chatham,”  he  wrote, 
“ begot  the  East  India  Company,  the  East  India  Com- 
pany begot  Lord  Clive,  and  Lord  Clive  begot  the 
Macaronis  ; and  they  begot  poverty  ; and  all  the  race 
are  still  living.”  Under  date  of  Feb.  17,  1773,  he 
said  : “ A winter  without  politics  ....  even  our 
Macaronis  entertain  the  town  with  nothing  but  new 
dresses  and  the  size  of  their  nosegays.  They  have 
lost  all  their  money  and  exhausted  their  credit  and 
can  no  longer  game  for  twenty  thousand  pounds  a 
night.” 

For  a few  years,  everything  was  a la  Macaroni , 
and  the  term  was  as  familiar  in  New  York  as  in  Lon- 


Costumes  of  Men 


don.  In  September,  1771,  we  even  find  “The  Mac- 
aroni Purse  for  ^100”  being  run  for  by  Mr.  De 
Lancey’s  Lath  and  Mr.  Waters’s  Liberty.  The 
word  was  also  adopted  here  as  a nom  de  plume. 
The  name  is  particularly  interesting  to  Americans 
on  account  of  the  song  beginning : 

“ Nankee  Doodle  came  to  town 
Upon  his  little  pony, 

Stuck  a feather  in  his  hat 
And  called  it  Macaroni.” 

The  story  that  this  popular  song  is  of  Cromwellian 
origin  is  scorned  by  the  best  authorities  on  old  Eng- 
lish ballads,  who  hold  that  the  word  Macaroni  estab- 
lishes the  date  of  the  lines  when  the  derisive  words 
had  peculiar  significance,  for  the  Macaroni  was  then  a 
familiar  figure. 

Gentlemen  in  New  York  had  every  opportunity 
to  keep  up  with  changes  in  fashions.  The  tailors 
were  a numerous  body.  In  1750,  “Simon  Smith, 
Taylor,  from  London,  living  at  his  shop  at  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Delaplain’s,  joiner,  in  Smith’s  Fly,  near  the  Fly 
Market,  makes  all  sorts  of  Mens  and  Boy’s  Cloaths, 
lac’d  or  plain,  likewise  Ladies  Habits  and  Riding 
Josephs  in  the  newest  Fashion.” 

In  1751,  Joseph  Reed,  Taylor,  from  London,  re- 
moved from  Depuyster’s  Street  to  the  Sign  of  the 
Blue  Ball  in  Wall  Street,  and  in  the  same  year 
“William  Anderson,  Taylor,  makes  all  sorts  of  laced 
or  plain  Cloaths  in  the  newest  Fashion  as  in  London.” 
In  1771,  Ennis  Graham  is  selling  clouded  silk  waist- 
coat patterns  richly  embroidered  and  spangled,  gold 
spangled  frogs  for  clothes  and  “macaroni  velvet.” 

185 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Fashionable  tailors  in  large  numbers  advertised  clothes 
of  costly  and  beautiful  materials  in  large  quantities, 
but  space  will  not  allow  further  quotations.  In  1775, 
William  Thorne  gives  a price  list  of  the  most  sump- 
tuous dress  of  the  day.  From  this  we  learn  that  a 
plain  suit  superfine  cloth  cost  £8-10-0  ; a half  trimmed 
ditto,  £9-0-0;  full  drest  ditto,  £1 0-0-0;  coat  and 
waistcoat,  superfine  cloth,  £6-15-0  ; a suit  best  velvet, 
any  colour,  lined  with  satin,  £38-0-0  ; suit  figured 
Manchester  velvet,  £15-10-0;  suit  rateen  trimmed 
with  feather  velvet  and  gold  buttons,  £21-0-0;  pair 
silk  velveret  breeches,  £2-0-0 ; single  coat,  superfine 
cloth,  ,£5-0-0;  plain  suit  second  best  cloth,  £ 7-0-0 ; 
coat  and  waistcoat,  ditto,  £5-5-0 ; surtout  coat,  best 
Bath  beaver,  £2-15-0;  plain  cloth  suit  livery,  £5- 
16-0;  ditto,  with  shag  breeches,  £7-0-0;  thickset 
frock  and  waistcoat,  £3-16-0  ; and  livery  surtout  coat, 
.£3-16-0. 


186 


Ill 


COATS,  BUTTONS,  SHOES  AND  GLOVES 

Having  spoken  of  fashions  and  of  the  tailors  who 
made  every  effort  to  secure  them  promptly,  a few 
specific  examples  of  what  some  individuals  actually 
owned  will  prove  of  interest.  We  can  hardly  wonder 
that  the  owner  of  the  coat  described  below  as  lost  in 
1 746  was  anxious  to  recover  it  : 

“ Last  night  was  taken  out  of  a house  in  this  city,  supposed 
by  a Mistake,  a blue  Broadcloth  coat,  with  light  blue  silk  frogs 
on  it,  with  a double  cape  and  silver  Hooks  and  Eyes,  the  Bind- 
ing on  the  right  side  is  much  wore.’’  Ten  shillings  is  offered 
and  no  questions  asked. 

In  1760  and  1 763,  we  find  two  other  announce- 
ments of  stolen  clothes  that  are  descriptive  of  the 
articles.  The  first  reads  : 

“Stolen  from  Jonathan  Grimes  of  Second  River  in  New 
Jersey,  supposed  by  an  Irishman  named  John  Smith,  a few  days 
ago  the  following  articles,  viz.  A light  coloured  Broad  cloth 
coat  with  blue  Lining,  white  buttons  and  button  holes,  two  pair 
of  Pumps,  one  pair  of  blue  serge  Breeches  with  white  Lining 
a white  Shirt  and  a pair  of  large  Brass  Buckles.”  ^3  reward 
is  offered  for  the  thief. 

The  second  plea  is  as  follows  : 

“ Lent  to  a gentleman  some  time  ago,  a blue  cloth  surtout 
coat  with  metal  buttons.  As  the  coat  has  not  been  returned, 
it  is  supposed  the  gentleman  forgot  where  he  had  it.  This  is 
to  desire  the  gentleman  to  send  it  to  John  Crawley’s,  at  the 

187 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

New  York  Arms,  whose  property  it  is  and  it  will  be  received 
with  thanks.” 

The  surtout,  mentioned  in  the  above  advertise- 
ment, had  been  a very  fashionable  garment  for  some 
time.  The  hard-hearted  Miss  Modish,  as  we  have 
seen,  compelled  her  admirer  to  adopt  one.  The 
fashionable  surtout  that  was  worn  in  1 762-3,  had 
four  flaps  on  each  side  called  “dog’s  ears.”  The  long 
cloak  had  not  been  abolished,  however,  even  if  the 
great-coat  had  won  its  way  into  popular  favour.  In 
1 760,  the  owner  of  one  thus  advertised  its  loss  : 

“Dropped  from  behind  a Sleigh  on  22  of  December,  be- 
tween the  hours  of  ten  and  eleven  at  Night  from  Windmill 
House  to  the  Fly,  a large  Spanish  Cloak  of  brown  Camblet 
lined  with  green  Bays,  with  a large  Hood  of  the  same  almost 
ripped  off,  and  ripped  at  the  Seam  on  the  right  Shoulder. 
Whoever  has  found  said  Cloak,  and  will  bring  it  to  the  Printer 
hereof,  or  to  Mr.  David  Cox,  Peruke-Maker,  in  Broad  Street 
shall  receive  sixteen  shillings  reward.” 

In  1764,  a gentleman  lost  “a  brown  camblet  cloak 
lined  with  red  baize  ; ” and  in  1 765,  another  gentleman, 
“a  large  Spanish  brown  Camblet  cloak  lined  with 
Green  Baize,  with  a large  Cap  to  it,”  for  which  he 
offered  four  dollars  reward. 

The  wardrobe  of  an  ordinary  New  York  gentle- 
man about  1 740  consisted  of  a suit  of  blue  broadcloth 
trimmed  with  silver,  a suit  of  black  broadcloth,  a suit 
of  camlet  trimmed  with  silver,  a fustian  coat  and 
breeches,  a green  coat  and  breeches,  a new  broadcloth 
trimmed  with  gold,  three  pairs  of  silk  stockings,  five 
pairs  of  worsted  stockings,  a pair  of  silver  shoe  and 
stock-buckles,  a pair  of  brass  knee-buckles,  and  three 
wigs.  This  was  not  excessive.  Handsomer  costumes 

188 


Costumes  of  Men 


were  sold  at  Moore  and  Lynsen’s  Vendue  House  in 
1 764,  such  as  a suit  of  superfine  white  broadcloth 
trimmed  with  gold  ; a scarlet  vest  laced  with  gold  ; a 
suit  of  silk  trimmed 
with  silver ; and  a 
suit  of  superfine 
blue  “ trimmed 
with  gold  vellum 
holes.” 

On  page  195 
is  shown  a fash- 
ionable costume 
of  about  1 760, 
worn  by  Richard 
Ray  of  New  York. 

The  coat  and  trou- 
sers are  of  bluish 
green,  with  gold  but- 
tons, the  waistcoat  is  white 
satin  trimmed  with  gold 
lace.  The  stock,  neck- 
cloth and  sleeve -ruffles  are 
white.  The  portrait  is  owned  by  Miss  Ellen  King. 

We  may  now  turn  to  the  unpublished  inventory 
of  the  belongings  of  an  officer  in  the  Royal  Ameri- 
cans,— Capt.  T.  Parker  of  the  Fourth  Battalion,  who 
died  in  Martinique  in  1762.  He  was  the  brother  of 
Elisha  Parker,  mentioned  on  pages  302  and  303.  This 
list  includes  : “ 1 red  surtout  coat ; 4 cloath  waistcoats  ; 
6 pair  breeches ; 2 pair  gloves ; 1 pair  leggins ; 1 pair 
mackisins ; 2 plain  hats ; 1 blue  surtout ; 1 muff ; 1 
pair  silver  shoe  buckles ; 29  shirts ; 2 pairs  linen 

189 


White  silk  waistcoat  embroidered 
in  colours.  Seepage  193. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

drawers;  18  nightcaps;  4 handkerchiefs;  6 white 
linen  waistcoats ; 2 flannel  waistcoats ; 5 pairs  silk 
stockings;  13  cotton  stockings;  13  worsted  stock- 
ings ; \ doz.  waistcoat  buttons ; 3 doz.  white  buttons ; 
1 sword  belt ; 1 pair  leather  gloves  ; 1 sash  ; 1 gorget ; 
1 silver  mounted  sword  ; 1 clothes  brush  ; 2 shaving- 
boxes,  and  1 shaving-brush.” 

And  now  let  us  pause  to  examine  some  of  the 
more  expensive  materials  that  were  imported  by  and 
for  the  tailors,  omitting  all  such  goods  as  fustians, 
camlets,  friezes,  sateens,  serges,  etc.  It  will  be  no- 
ticed that  the  button  was  of  great  importance,  as  it 
formed  a trimming  for  coat  and  waistcoat,  especially 
during  the  reign  of  George  III.,  who  was  himself  so 
fond  of  making  buttons  that  he  was  laughed  at  in  a 
satire  called  The  Button  Makers  Jest-Book . “Vel- 
lum-holes ” were  also  used  for  decoration. 

We  find  among  the  lists:  New  fashion  buttons 
and  mohair,  1732;  silk  camlets  with  silk  and  hair 
buttons  to  suit,  striped  linsey  coats,  Scotch  plaid, 
snake-skin  coatings,  light  and  cloth-coloured  sarsenet, 
silk  and  hair  buttons,  gilt  buttons,  1 743 ; worsted 
plad  water’d  grograms,  scarf  buttons,  1 745  ; fine  em- 
broidered waistcoats,  metal  and  gilt  buttons,  new 
fashioned  coat  and  waistcoat  buttons,  fine  silk  and 
worsted  patterns  for  waistcoats  and  breeches,  silk  and 
worsted  waistcoats  and  breeches  pieces,  mens  knit 
waistcoats,  black  and  white  stript  lutestrings,  and 
Turky  Tabby  buckrams,  and  breast  and  shirt  metal 
buttons,  1 750  ; black  silk  knit  waistcoats  and  breeches, 
scarlet  and  black  knit  worsted  waistcoats  and  breeches, 
Saxon  green  knit  waistcoats,  1751;  an  assortment  of 

190 


Costumes  of  Men 


yellow  and  white  metal  buttons,  1752  ; gold  and  silver 
wire  and  mohair  buttons,  and  death’s  head  black  vest 
buttons,  1754;  coloured  thread,  metal,  worsted,  and 
death’s  head  buttons,  nankeens  and  breeches  patterns, 


Eighteenth  century  shoe,  stock,  and  knee  buckles,  of  gold  and  silver  set 
with  paste  ; watches,  chatelaines,  buttons  and  fobs  ; originals  in  the 
Museum  for  the  Art  of  Decoration,  Cooper  Union.  See  page  254. 


I9I 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

damask  of  sundry  sorts  for  vests,  black,  blue,  white, 
scarlet  and  crimson  silk  and  worsted  breeches  pat- 
terns, black,  blue  and  cloth  coloured  best  Manchester 
velvet,  Manchester  velvet  shapes  for  vests,  gilt  and 
plated  buttons,  silk  twist  buttons,  gold  and  silver 
lace,  silk  and  hair  grogram  and  corded  tabby,  blue 
and  crimson  Genoa  velvet,  and  remnants  of  velvet  of 
all  colours  for  caps  and  collars  of  coats,  1 760  ; gold 
and  silver  buttons,  best  London  gilt  and  plate  but- 
tons ; three  cord  silk  twist  buttons,  Prussian  mold 
and  basket  buttons,  1760;  crimson,  scarlet  and  black 
silk  breeches  patterns,  1761  ; basket  and  plain  gilt 
buttons,  silk  breeches  patterns,  1 762  ; plaited  basket 
coat  and  vest  buttons,  1 764 ; blue  and  scarlet  new- 
fashioned  Bath  coating,  newest  fashion  gold,  silver 
and  metal,  scarf,  basket,  death’s  head,  mohair  and 
other  buttons  fit  for  slop  shops,  horsehair  buttons  and 
other  trimming  for  hatters,  gold  and  silver  shoulder 
knots,  gold  and  silver  shoulder  straps,  knee  garters, 
blue,  black,  buff,  crimson,  scarlet  and  cloth  coloured 
worsted  breeches  patterns,  blue,  black,  buff,  crimson, 
scarlet  and  cloth  coloured  silk  breeches  patterns, 
corded  tabbies  for  men’s  vests,  1767;  silk  clouded 
vest  patterns  richly  embroidered  and  spangled,  gold 
spangled  frogs  for  clothes,  1771;  and  royal  ribbed 
and  Macaroni  velvet,  feather  velvet,  figured  Manches- 
ter velvet,  1775.  In  1773,  John  Laboyteaux,  tailor, 
promised  “Any  gentleman  that  chooses  to  have  but- 
tons made  of  the  same  cloth  can  have  them  worked 
with  purl  and  spangles  with  any  sprig  or  flower  that 
they  choose,  as  neat  as  those  made  in  London.”  A 
handsome  white  silk  waistcoat  embroidered  in  colours 

192 


Costumes  of  Men 

appears  on  page  189.  It  belonged  to  a Col.  John 
Brown  who  died  in  1781. 

Steel  buttons  are  shown  on  page  1 79.  These  be- 
longed to  William  Beekman  and  were  the  same  that 
trim  the  waistcoat  he  wears  in  his  portrait  on  page 
183.  It  will  be  noticed  that  he  carries  his  cocked 
hat  under  his  arm  in  the  fashionable  style.  The  shoes 
of  the  men,  generally  speaking,  were  like  the  women’s, 
— with  high  heels,  high  vamp  and  buckles  on  the  in- 
step. In  1753,  the  beau  wore  : 

“ A pair  of  smart  pumps  made  up  of  grained  leather, 

So  thin  he  can’t  venture  to  tread  on  a feather ; 

His  buckles  like  diamonds  must  glitter  and  shine — 

Should  they  cost  fifty  pounds  they  would  not  be  too  fine.” 

All  through  our  period,  there  were  importations  of 
fine  stitched  pumps,  neat  channelled  boots  and  pumps, 
turned  pumps  ; and  double  and  single  channelled 
pumps,  and  in  1763,  Alexander  Montgomery,  at  the 
Fly  Market,  next  door  to  Mr.  Brovort’s,  opposite  to 
Mrs.  Rutgers,  offered  “a  parcel  of  greased  leather 
double  and  single  channelled  pumps,  stitched  high 
heeled  shoes  and  pumps  of  the  very  best  sort,  from 
fourteen  shillings  to  sixteen  shillings  per  pair.” 

The  buckle  was  the  important  ornament  of  the 
shoe : these  were  of  diamonds,  paste,  gold,  silver, 
open-worked  polished  steel,  pinchbeck,  or  black. 
The  high  top-boot  with  its  upper  part  of  light  leather, 
was  worn  by  huntsmen,  and  the  dashing  bucks  and 
dandies  of  the  day  often  appeared  in  them.  Of 
course,  spurs  were  fixed  to  them.  These  boots  were 
worn  by  the  officers,  for,  like  the  Kevenhuller  cocked 
hat,  they  were  distinctly  military.  There  were  nu- 

14  193 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

merous  shoemakers  in  New  York,  but  probably  not 
very  many  who  had  the  courage  to  expose  their  pa- 
trons, as  one  of  them  does  in  1 749  : 

“ This  is  to  give  notice  to  the  person  who  calls  himself  a 
gentleman  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  who  was  pleased  to 
send  me  so  many  messages  concerning  the  making  of  his  ex- 
traordinary shoes,  that  they  are  now  done  and  finished,  there- 
fore pray  him  to  come  (tho’  not  without  money)  and  fetch 
them,  for  as  I have  known  him  a bad  paymaster  some  years,  do 
not  care  now  leather  is  dear,  to  let  them  go  without,  and  as 
they  are  made  the  one  larger  than  the  other,  on  account  of  his 
sore  foot,  beg  that  he  would  not  let  them  lie  on  my  hands,  lest 
I expose  him  more  publicly.” 

Stockings  were  invariably  of  silk  with  clocks,  and 
until  the  last  years  of  George  II.  were  rolled  beneath 
the  knee  and  kept  in  place  by  the  garter  and  knee- 
buckles,  which  were  similar  to  the  shoe-buckles,  but 
larger.  Knee-garters  were  of  silk.  Cloth-coloured 
knee-garters  appeared  in  1 760,  and  we  even  find 
among  the  goods  that  Mr.  Stuyvesant  advertised  for 
sale  in  1764  “ladies’  and  gentlemen’s  silk  garters  with 
mottoes.”  Large  bunches  of  ribbons,  or  strings,  dec- 
orated the  knees  of  the  Macaroni. 

The  shirt  was  always  of  fine  linen,  or  cambric,  and 
was  frequently  trimmed  with  a frill  when  a small  cra- 
vat was  worn.  During  some  seasons  the  black  soli- 
taire that  was  fastened  to  the  bag-wig  was  preferred  ; 
at  others,  a stock  and  stock-buckle  ; and,  finally,  in 
the  Macaroni  period,  the  style  was  to  wrap  oneself  in 
a large  neckerchief,  which  was  tied  in  a bow  under 
the  chin.  Specimen  stock,  knee  and  shoe-buckles 
appear  on  page  191  ; and  a pair  of  paste  knee  buckles 
on  page  1 79. 


94 


Costumes  of  Men 

Ruffles  always  framed  the  wrists  and  these  were 
often  of  rich  lace.  “ Gentlemen’s  ruffles  of  blond 
lace  ” were  sold  by  Nicholas  Stuyvesant  in  1764. 

There  were  many  varieties  of  handkerchiefs,  such 
as  plain  and  flowered,  and  those  made  of  various  kinds 
of  silk.  We  meet  with 
both  Barcelona  handker- 
chiefs and  cravats. 

Among  the  varieties 
of  gloves  we  may  note  : 

“ Men’s  and  boys  glazed 
kid  and  lamb,  unbound 
and  ribbon  bound  gloves  ” 
and  “ men’s  coloured  welt- 
ed mittens,”  1751  ; “men’s 
black  and  white  silk  gloves, 
black  and  white  buck, 
shammy,  and  wash  leather, 
shammy  and  best  buckskin 
gloves,”  1769. 

The  jewelry  consisted 
of  knee,  shoe,  and  stock  buckles,  watches  with  a 
bunch  of  seals  (the  Macaroni  wore  two  watches)  and 
rings.  The  men,  of  course,  wore  swords,  and  carried 
canes  and  walking-sticks  and  often  umbrellas.  The 
canes  and  walking-sticks  were  gold,  silver,  or  ivory- 
headed, and  in  1745  sometimes  had  small  compasses 
fixed  upon  them.  An  ivory  headed  walking-stick 
that  belonged  to  William  Beekman  appears  on  page 
179,  and  other  examples,  with  a sword,  on  page  263. 
“ Umbrelloes  of  all  sorts”  were  imported  in  1761 
by  John  Hammersly  and  Company,  near  the  Coen- 

J95 


Portrait  of  Richard  Ray,  painted 
about  1760.  Seepage  189. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

ties  Market,  and  in  1764  silk  umbrellas  were  ad- 
vertised. 

The  pocket-book  was  of  red  Morocco  with  silver 
clasps,  such  as  the  one  lost  at  the  Play  House  in  1761, 
or  of  shagreen  with  silver  or  pinchbeck  clasps.  Fre- 
quently in  the  pocket  an  essence-bottle  was  carried, 
and,  of  course,  the  snuff-box.  The  latter  was  of 
every  variety  : gold  or  silver,  plain,  chased  or  jewelled, 
set  with  precious  or  semi-precious  stones,  or  paste,  of 
tortoiseshell,  of  china  painted  and  enamelled,  and  of 
French  paper.  A very  handsome  one  was  described 
on  Dec.  5,  1748,  as  “a  silver  snuff  box  of  an  oval 
figure  ; the  lid,  mother-of-pearl,  with  a shell  carved 
upon  it.”  A collection  of  tortoiseshell-boxes  appears 
on  page  376. 

Although  the  period  under  review  was  essentially 
one  of  splendid  attire  and  ceremonial  robes,  yet  in 
New  York,  a democratic  tendency  towards  a neglect 
of  form  was  sometimes  observable.  As  early  as  1747, 
a writer  who  calls  himself  Thomas  Trim  speaks  of  the 
great  uneasiness  he  feels  when  he  observes  the  con- 
tempt  with  which  the  people  sometimes  treat  their 
elective  magistrates.  The  fault  he  said  lay  entirely 
with  the  latter,  because  they  did  not  maintain  the  dig- 
nity of  their  office,  but  consorted  with  the  lowest  of 
the  people.  Another  cause  that  contributed  to  the 
contempt  of  Corporation  Magistrates  was  the  robes 
they  wore  in  the  distribution  of  justice.  Thomas 
Trim  went  on  to  say  : 

“ To  see  an  alderman  sit  or  stand  in  the  seat  of  Justice, 
and  award  the  payment  of  5.?  6d  to  a person  of  his  Ward  that 
comes  to  him  for  relief,  in  the  pompous  robe  of  a greasy  wool- 

196 


Costumes  of  Men 


len  cap  and  a tettered  Banjam  jacket,  must  certainly  command 
the  greatest  respect,  both  to  their  knowledge  and  good  man- 
ners. Yet  I have  seen  one  of  these  robed  magistrates  vouch- 
safe to  powder  his  wig  and  put  it  on,  without  quitting  his  Ban- 
jam,  to  sup  with  one  of  the  Ward  upon  the  profits  of  his  daily 
labour,  provided  the  feast  was  graced  with  some  good  oysters, 
a pipe  of  tobacco  and  a mug  of  strong  beer.  I am  not  for 
becoming  a slave  to  the  fashion,  or  making  dress  the  whole 
business  of  my  life;  though  at  the  same  time,  I think  every 
person  that  appears  in  public,  clothed  in  authority,  should  be 
decent  and  clean.  The  people  in  general  love  show,  and  always 
pay  a greater  regard  to  a magistrate  in  his  proper  robes  than 
when  he  thinks  proper  to  appear  in  the  dress  of  a smith,  mason, 
or  carpenter.  I will  venture  to  affirm,  no  magistrate  ever  lost 
a vote  by  putting  on  a clean  shirt  when  he  was  dirty,  or  cloth- 
ing the  seat  of  his  brain  with  a powdered  wig  instead  of  a dirty 
cap,  or  even  by  keeping  of  good  Company.” 


197 


PART  V 

THE  DRESS  OF  WOMEN 


PART  V 


THE  DRESS  OF  WOMEN 


I 

TOILET,  PAINTS  AND  PERFUMES 

It  is  very  difficult  to  realize  the  extensive  use  the 
fashionable  women  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  made 
of  cosmetics.  A lady’s  dressing-table  exhibited  an 
extraordinary  array  of  paste-pots,  scent-bottles,  jars 
of  pomatum,  bags  of  perfume,  pincushions,  boxes  of 
rouge,  powder  and  unguents,  washes,  pastillios  de 
Bocca  to  sweeten  the  breath,  and  dishes,  bowls  and 
spoons  for  mixing  the  various  compounds  considered 
necessary  to  improve  the  skin,  eyebrows,  lips,  hands 
and  hair.  One  English  satirist  aptly  remarked  that  it 
took  a whole  morning  to  put  on  what  it  took  a whole 
evening  to  put  off.  In  1 730,  Swift  wrote  : 

“ Five  hours  (and  who  can  do  it  less  in  ?) 

By  haughty  Celia  spent  in  dressing ; 

The  goddess  from  her  chamber  issues, 

Array’d  in  lace,  brocade  and  tissues.” 

The  Lady  Betty  Modishes,  Sir  Fopling  Flutters, 
Sir  Courtly  Nices,  Lady  Wishforts  and  Lady  Teazles 
spent  more  than  half  their  lives  in  dressing-rooms 
preparing  to  shine  at  assemblies,  racquets,  routs,  card- 
parties,  and  theatres.  No  secret  was  made  of  the 


201 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

laying  on  of  artificial  beauty,  and,  indeed,  sometimes, 
while  at  entertainments,  gay  coquettes  would  retire  to 
make  the  roses  in  their  cheeks  bloom  afresh.  Horace 
Walpole,  after  taking  his  beautiful  niece,  Lady  Wal- 

degrave,  and  her  friend 
Mrs.  Ashe  to  Vauxhall, 
jots  down:  “They  had 
just  refreshed  their  last 
layers  of  red  and  looked 
as  handsome  as  crimson 
could  make  them  ” ; and  at 
the  coronation  of  George 
III.  in  1761,  when  he 
“ dressed  part  of  Lady 
Suffolk’s  head,”  he  tells 

us  that  “ Lord  B put 

on  rouge  upon  his  wife 
and  the  Duchess  of  Bed- 
ford in  the  Painted  Cham- 
ber. The  Duchess  of 
Queensberry  told  me  of  the  latter  that  she  looked 
like  an  orange  peach,  half  red  and  half  yellow.” 

In  the  Georgian  age,  many  women  fell  victims  to 
over-indulgence  in  cosmetics.  One  of  these  was 
Lady  Coventry,  one  of  the  beautiful  Gunning  sisters. 
Lord  Harrington’s  daughter  was  another.  The  poet 
Cowper,  condemning  this  practice  in  1 784,  says  if  a 
London  physician  were  allowed  to  blab,  he  “ could 
publish  a bill  of  female  mortality  that  would  astonish 
us.”  This  use  of  cosmetics  was  carried  to  such  ex- 
treme length,  that,  in  177 o,  an  Act  of  Parliament  was 
proposed  prohibiting  every  woman,  maid,  wife,  or 

202 


The  Dress  of  Women 

widow,  no  matter  what  age,  rank  or  occupation,  try- 
ing to  entrap  any  of  His  Majesty’s  subjects  by  the 
aid  of  perfumes,  false  hair,  or  crepon  d' Espagne  (a 
kind  of  woollen  stuff  impregnated  with  rouge).  The 
penalty  was  that  any  woman  using  these  aids  to 
beauty  would  be  treated  as  a sorceress  and  dealt  with 
according  to  law.  Her  marriage  would  also  be  de- 
clared void. 

The  favourite  bloom  in  the  days  of  Queen  Anne 
was  the  “Bavarian  Red  Liquor”  which  was  even 
“taken  inwardly;”  French  red,  Spanish  red,  Spanish 
paper,  Chinese  wool,  and  carmine  were  among  the 
other  rouges  employed.  Pearl  and  bismuth  powders 
were  popular;  and  the  soaps  were  legion.  “Wash- 
balls,”  composed  of  rice  powder,  orris,  white  lead, 
variously  marbled,  or  coloured,  were  also  numerous  ; 
and  as  for  the  waters  and  scents  introduced  or  com- 
pounded by  the  famous  Charles  Lillie,  their  mere 
enumeration  would  occupy  pages.  One  of  the  most 
popular  was  the  “ Princely  Perfume  ” described  as  a 
delightful  powder  for  the  scenting  of  handkerchiefs, 
gloves,  and  linen,  and  which  perfumed  “the  hands, 
the  hair  of  the  head  and  periwigs  most  delicately.” 
Another  was  the  famous  “ Hungary  water,”  composed 
of  rosemary,  rectified  spirits,  and  Jamaica  ginger. 
Another  was  “ King’s  Honey  Water,”  by  the  use  of 
which  the  Duchess  of  Marlborough  was  said  to  have 
kept  the  colour  of  her  beautiful  hair.  Among  other 
scents  and  waters,  the  favourites  were : ambergris, 
musk,  benjamin,  bergamot,  lavender,  red  spirit  of 
lavender,  attar  of  roses,  sandal,  citron,  perfumed  cat- 
chud*  essence  of  jessamine,  essence  of  orange  flowers, 


203 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

oils  of  rhodium,  roses,  lavender,  cloves,  rosemary, 
coriander,  marjoram,  cinnamon,  orange-flower  water, 
myrtle,  rose  and  Cordova  water,  eau  de  carin,  ean  de 
luce , and  eau  sans pareil. 

The  beauties  and  coquettes,  maids  and  matrons  of 
New  York,  were  no  less  eager  than  their  London 
relatives  to  make  themselves  handsome  according  to 
the  standards  of  the  day.  The  milliners,  the  chemists, 
the  hair-dressers  and  even  the  highly-respected  printer 
and  bookseller,  Hugh  Gaine,  tempted  them  with 
every  article  that  was  to  be  found  on  London  toilet- 
tables.  These  scents,  waters,  rouges,  pomatums,  hair- 
dyes,  etc.  must  have  met  with  a great  sale  since  they 
were  advertised  among  the  goods  in  every  cargo. 

If  we  take  a few  instances  of  articles  imported  and 
recommended,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  statement  is 
not  fanciful.  The  eau  de  luce , which  Anstey  num- 
bered in  his  New  Bath  Guide  in  i 766  as  one  of  the 
requisites  every  belle  should  carry  with  her  to  the 
fashionable  watering-place,  came  in  1762  in  “Bottles 
with  cases,  an  excellent  Remedy  for  the  Head  Ach, 
and  very  convenient  for  Gentlemen  and  Ladies  to 
carry  in  their  Pockets.”  Eau  sans  pareil , mentioned 
by  Anstey,  was  here  in  1761.  In  1762,  Hugh  Gaine 
is  selling  “ Princely  Beautifying  Lotion,  so  much 
esteemed  for  its  general  Utility  by  Persons  of  all 
Ranks  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.”  Two  years 
later,  he  described  it  more  in  detail  and  even  recom- 
mended that  it  be  “taken  inwardly.”  His  appeal  to 
the  vanity  of  the  ladies  is  worth  quoting : 

“ The  Princely  Beautifying  Lotion.  It  beautifies  the  Face, 
Neck  and  Hands  to  the  Utmost  Perfection  and  is  in  the  great- 

204 


The  Dress  of  Women 


est  Esteem  amongst  Ladies,  etc.  of  the  first  Quality.  No  words 
can  sufficiently  express  its  virtues,  for  it  is  not  of  the  nature  of 
paint,  which  puts  a false  unnatural  gloss  on  the  Skin,  but  is 
a true  Remedy,  that  by  its  use  really  adds  a Lustre  to  the 
most  Beautiful  by  showing  the  fine  features  of  the  Face;  and 
is  so  safe  not  having  the  least  grain  of  Mercury  in  it,  that  it 
may  be  taken  inwardly;  and  if  smelled  to,  is  really  good 
against  the  Vapours,  etc.  in  Ladies,  the  very  Reverse  of  all 
other  Remedies  of  this  kind  which  raise  the  Vapours.” 

Long  before  this,  however,  we  find  fine  lavender 
water  and  King’s  Honey  water,  constantly  advertised, 
as  well  as  Hungary  water,  Damask  rose-water,  scent- 
eggs,  lip-salve,  cold-cream,  sticking-plaster,  patches, 
court-plaster,  pomatum,  hair-dyes,  marble  wash-balls, 
powder-boxes  and  puffs. 

In  1753,  Barak  Hayes  in  Bayard  Street,  was  selling 
among  other  commodities,  at  the  lowest  prices,  fine 
perfumes,  marble  wash-balls  in  cases,  lavender-water, 
King’s  honey-water,  Royal  milk-water  which  took  all 
spots,  scurfs,  pimples  and  freckles  off  the  face,  fine 
British  oil  for  the  gout  and  rheumatism,  Greenough’s 
tincture  for  preserving  the  teeth  and  gums,  essence  of 
bergamot,  essence  of  lemon,  good  Capilier,  Hungary 
water,  soap-boxes  and  brushes  for  shaving,  fine 
scented  powder,  tooth-powder  and  brushes  for  the 
teeth,  lip-salve,  tooth-pickers,  patch-boxes,  snuff,  po- 
matum, etc.  In  1754,  we  note  all  sorts  of  perfumes; 
“the  right  Persian  soap  in  boxes  for  lathering  the 
head  and  face  with  all  sorts  of  brushes  for  the  same  ; 
true  French  Hungary  water  ; the  very  best  double 
distilled  lavender,  nuns  tooth-pickers,  and  double  and 
single  pins  for  the  hair.”  Mint  and  pepper-mint  water 
become  popular  about  1762. 

205 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Iii  1765,  Thomas  B.  Attwood  in  Broad  Street, 
had  a long  list  of  toilet  and  medicinal  wares  includ- 
ing, James’s  powders,  Fraunces’s  elixir,  Squire’s  elixir, 
Bostock’s  elixir,  Blois’s  lozenges,  Chace’s  balsamic 
pills,  Pectoral  balsam  of  honey,  Hill’s  tincture  of 
valerian,  Jesuit’s  drops,  Bateman’s  drops,  Godfrey’s 

cordial,  Balsam  of  health, 
Boerhaave’s  balsam,  Cold 
cream,  Vitriolic  ether  for 
headache,  corn  plaster,  Ry- 
an’s sugar  plumbs,  paste  for 
the  teeth,  shaving  machines, 
powder  puffs,  hair-powder 
plain  and  scented,  grey  pow- 
der for  mourning,  smelling- 
bottles,  Eau  de  luce , Eau 
sans  pareil , and  such  simple 
and  compound  waters  as 

ender,  rose,  orange  flower, 
honey,  bergamot,  elder  flow- 
er, Pyrmont  and  Spaw  wa- 
ters, oil  of  cinnamon,  oil  of  nutmegs,  oil  of  cloves, 
and  Rhodium. 

For  many  years,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  fash- 
ion patronized  a chemist  named  Edward  Agar,  who 
lived  near  the  Coffee  1 louse.  Among  his  wares  in  1 765 
were  Royal  Cream  Wash  Balls,  Imperial  ditto  mar- 
bled, Ditto  Cold  C ream,  or  the  Royal  Cosmetic  Beau- 
tifying Lotion  and  “ Italian  Red  for  the  Ladies,  which 
gives  a beautiful  florid  Colour  to  the  Skin,  where 
Nature  is  deficient  not  to  be  distinguished  from  the 

206 


peppermint,  Hungary,  lav- 


Portrait  of  Mrs.  Pierre  Vallete 
(Maria  Jay,  1700-1762), 
owned  by  Mrs.  Matthew 
Clarkson.  See  page  228. 


The  Dress  of  Women 


Natural  Bloom  of  Youth.”  About  the  same  time, 
there  was  a “Grecian  Liquid  for  changing  the  hair 
from  any  colour  to  a beautiful  black.” 

Hugh  Gaine  continued  to  sell  similar  articles 
during  these  years.  In  1771,  he  imported  : 

“ The  Beautifying  Ointment,  which  was  sold  by  Dr.  Con- 
stable in  Chappie  Street,  some  years  ago  with  great  success,  in 
curing  all  carbuncles,  pimples  or  cutaneous  eruptions,  render- 
ing the  face  smooth  and  of  a good  colour,  may  now  be  had  of 
the  Printer  hereof : ’Tis  innocent  and  may  be  used  with  great 

safety  by  either  sex.” 

He  also  advertised  “ Lady  Molineux’s  Italian 
Paste  for  enamelling  the  hands  and  neck  of  a lovely 
white,”  and  “The  Venetian  Paste,”  which  rendered 
the  skin  “as  soft  as  velvet,”  in  1774. 

The  following  was  a novelty  and  was  doubtless 
purchased  in  generous  quantities  : 

“ Now  first  imported  to  North  America.  The  Bloom  of 
Circassia.  It  is  allowed  that  the  Circassians  are  the  most  beau- 
tiful women  in  the  world.  However,  they  derive  not  all  their 
charms  from  nature.  A gentleman  long  resident  there  in  the 
suite  of  a person  of  distinction,  well-known  for  his  travels  thro’ 
Greece,  became  acquainted  with  the  secret  of  the  Liquid  Bloom, 
extracted  from  a vegetable,  the  produce  of  that  Country,  in 
general  use  there  with  the  most  esteemed  beauties.  It  differs 
from  all  others  in  two  very  essential  points.  First,  that  it  in- 
stantly gives  a rosy  hue  to  the  cheeks,  not  to  be  distinguished 
from  the  lively  and  ornamental  bloom  of  rural  beauty,  nor  will 
it  come  off  by  perspiration,  or  the  use  of  a handkerchief.  A 
moment’s  trial  will  prove  that  it  is  not  to  be  parallelled.” 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  “Bloom  of  Circassia” 
was  not  identical  with  the  “ Balm  of  Mecca,”  which 
Lady  Mary  Wortley  Montagu  applied  when  she  vis- 

207 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

ited  the  East  and  which  she  said  made  her  face  red 
and  swollen  for  three  days.  All  through  these  years, 
many  dressing-cases  had  been  sold  made  of  shagreen, 
morocco,  straw  and  mahogany,  well  equipped  with 
every  needed  article.  Perhaps  the  most  attractive 
was  advertised  in  1774,  by  James  Rivington,  who  had 
“dressing-boxes  for  the  toilet  of  Sacharissa”  for  sale. 


G.  Duyckinck,  at  the  “Sign  of  the  Looking-Glass 
and  Druggist  Pot.”  (1768.) 


208 


II 


HAIR-DRESSING:  CAPS  AND  HATS 

Throughout  the  Eighteenth  Century,  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  hair  was  eccentric.  In  1711,  Addison  de- 
voted an  essay  to  the  subject  of  the  head-dress,  de- 
claring that  “ there  is  not  so  variable  a thing  in  nature,” 
and  asserting  that  “ within  my  own  memory  I have 
known  it  rise  and  fall  above  thirty  degrees.  About 
ten  years  ago  it  shot  up  to  a very  great  height,  inso- 
much that  the  female  part  of  our  species  were  much 
taller  than  the  men.”  The  witty  satirist  is,  of  course, 
referring  to  the  commode,  or  fontange,  that  origi- 
nated with  Mademoiselle  Fontange  at  the  court  of 
Louis  XIV.  in  1680.  This  head-dress,  which  was 
sometimes  also  called  a “tower,”  was  composed  of  two 
or  three  tiers  of  lace  arranged  very  stiffly  above  the 
forehead  and  kept  in  place  by  a knot  of  ribbon  behind. 
It  was  popular  in  England  during  the  reigns  of  Mary 
and  Anne.  The  hair  itself  was  simply  arranged, 
often  in  curls. 

In  1 729,  “gauze  heads”  were  very  fashionable  and, 
after  a short  period  when  a low  coiffure  was  worn,  the 
arrangement  of  the  hair  became  more  and  more  elab- 
orate until  George  III.’s  reign,  when  it  developed 
into  the  complicated  structure  which  remained  in 
vogue  until  1 780,  ever  increasing  in  height  and  eccen- 
tricity. From  1749  to  1776,  there  were  no  fewer 
15  209 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

than  forty-one  wig-makers  and  hair-dressers  registered 
among  the  freemen  of  New  York.  The  advertise- 
ments of  several  of  these  are  given  in  the  chapter  on 
the  costume  of  men.  Not  a few  of  them  made  a 
business  of  dressing  the  hair  of  the  ladies  and  furnish- 
ing them  with  fashionable  towers,  tites  or  heads,  per- 
rukes,  etc.  There  was  evidently  much  competition 
among  these  barbers  for  the  patronage  of  the  fair  sex. 

“Simon  Franks  from  London  makes  and  sells  all  sorts 
of  perukes,  after  the  best  and  newest  fashion,  cuts  and  dresses 
ladies’  wigs  and  towers  after  a manner  performed  much  better 
than  is  pretended  to  be  done  by  some  others.”  (1748.) 

During  this  age,  it  was  impossible  for  ladies  to 
dress  their  hair  themselves.  The  great  erection  on 
their  heads  had  to  be  “composed”  or  built  up  with 
pads,  cushions,  puffs  and  curls  before  it  was  orna- 
mented with  lappets,  gauze,  lace,  poufs , feathers,  ropes 
of  pearls  or  beads,  jewels,  ornamental  pins  and  various 
fantastic  gewgaws.  With  a plentiful  supply  of  poma- 
tum, powder  and  false  hair,  as  well  as  crisping  and 
curling  tongs  and  pins,  the  barber  “works  all  into 
such  a state  of  confusion,  that  you  would  imagine  it 
was  intended  for  the  stuffing  of  a chair-bottom  ; then 
bending  it  into  various  curls  and  shapes  over  his  finger, 
he  fastens  it  with  black  pins  so  tight  to  the  head  that 
neither  the  weather  nor  time  have  power  to  alter  its 
position.  Thus  my  lady  is  dressed  for  three  months 
at  least ; during  which  time  it  is  not  in  her  power  to 
comb  her  head.” 

As  a rule,  this  head  was  retouched  every  day  and 
anointed  with  strong  essences.  Every  few  weeks,  it 
was  taken  to  pieces  and  built  up  again.  The  descrip- 

210 


The  Dress  of  Women 

tions  of  “opening  a lady’s  head”  in  the  contemporary 
magazines  do  not  bear  quotation.  Satirists  found  the 
lady’s  head  a theme  for  attack  ; but  their  verses  and 
essays  had  no  effect  upon  fashion.  The  Universal 
Magazine  in  1 768  published  the  following  stanzas  to 
a belle  of  the  day  : 

“ When  he  views  your  tresses  thin 
Tortur’d  by  some  French  friseur, 

Horsehair,  hemp  and  wool  within 
Garnished  with  a di’mond  skewer, 

“ When  he  scents  the  mingled  steam 
Which  your  plaster’d  heads  are  rich  in, 

Lard  and  meal  and  clouted  cream, 

Can  he  love  a walking-kitchen  ? ” 

This  was  published  only  a few  months  after  the 
following  had  appeared  in  a New  York  paper  : 

“ It  is  now  the  mode  to  make  a lady’s  head  of  twice  the 
natural  size  by  means  of  artificial  pads,  bolsters,  or  rolls  over 
which  their  hair  is  carefully  combed,  or  frizzled  to  imitate  the 
shock  head  of  a negro.” 

In  1773,  we  gain  a good  idea  of  the  appearance  of 
one  of  these  fashionable  tUes  in  these  lines  : 

“ White  as  the  covered  Alps,  or  wintry  face 
Of  snowy  Lapland  her  toupee  uprear’d, 

Exhibits  to  the  view  a cumbrous  mass 
Of  curls  high  nodding  o’er  her  polish’d  brow, 

From  which  redundant  flows  the  Brussels  lace 
With  pendant  ribbons  too  of  various  dye, 

Where  all  the  colours  in  the  ethereal  bow 
Unite  and  blend  and  tantalize  the  sight.” 

Hannah  More  referred  to  this  ridiculous  fashion 
in  one  of  her  letters  of  1777,  and  described  eleven 
ladies  who  had  among  them  on  their  heads  an  acre 
and  a half  of  shrubbery,  besides  grass-plots,  tulip-beds, 


21 1 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

kitchen  gardens,  peonies,  etc.  She  also  says  some  of 
these  head-dresses,  with  their  decorations,  cost  hun- 
dreds of  pounds ! 

Not  only  did  the  barbers  and  peruke-makers  adver- 
tise everything  that  was  needed  in  their  line,  but  other 
people  were  constantly  importing  powders,  pins,  po- 
matums and  essences.  As  early  as  1 734,  Peter 
Lynch,  near  Mr.  Rutgers  Brew-house,  had  for  sale 
“very  good  Orange  butter  ; it  is  excellent  for  Gentle- 
women to  comb  up  their  Hair  with.”  Hair-pins,  hair- 
bags,  powder-boxes  and  puffs,  wig-springs  and  brushes, 
hair-dyes,  best  grey  powder  for  mourning,  hair  powder 
plain  and  perfumed,  and  pomatum  came  in  great 
quantities  in  1760-1.  We  notice  hair-fillets  in  1764; 
tupee  combs  in  1765  ; and,  if  we  turn  to  the  milliners’ 
announcements,  everything  that  can  be  thought  of 
in  the  way  of  ribands,  beads,  feathers,  lace,  lappets, 
gauze,  aigrettes  and  ornaments  of  all  sorts  for  the 
decoration  of  the  monstrous  “ tite.” 

This  brings  us  to  a consideration  of  hats,  bonnets, 
caps  and  hoods  of  the  period.  These,  naturally 
enough,  varied  in  shape  and  style  to  suit  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  hair.  The  commode,  which  held 
its  place  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  was  in 
itself  a kind  of  cap  and  admitted  no  other  covering 
upon  the  head.  The  hood  was,  however,  very  fre- 
quently worn  and  was  susceptible  of  graceful  arrange- 
ment. In  1711-12  the  Spectator  humorously  or- 
dered : “All  ladies  who  come  to  church  in  the  new- 
fashioned  hoods,  are  desired  to  be  there  before  divine 
service  begins,  lest  they  divert  the  attention  of  the 
congregation.”  The  ladies  wore  these  when  travel- 


The  Dress  of  Women 


ling  and  frequently  when  walking  in  gardens  and 
parks. 

One  of  the  favourite  varieties  of  hood  was  the 
Nithsdale,  worn  for  many  years  after  1715,  particular- 
ly by  elderly  women.  This  got  its  name  from  the 
ruse  of  Lady  Nithsdale  in  effecting  her  husbands 


Green  and  blue  silk  calashes,  in  the  Museum  of  the  New  York 
Colonial  Dames.  See  page  218. 


escape  from  the  Tower,  in  1715,  by  dressing  him  in 
female  clothes  and  wrapping  her  ample  riding-hood 
around  his  head  and  shoulders.  Hoods  were  still 
being  worn  in  175 1-3,  as  the  following  advertisement 
will  show  : 

“ Margaret  St.  Maurice,  cap-maker,  from  London,  informs 
her  customers  that  she  has  removed  from  Mr.  Bayard’s  Wharf 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Vandike,  opposite  the  Old  Dutch  Church, 
where  she  makes  all  sorts  of  Men’s,  Women’s,  and  children’s 
Velvet  and  Silk  Jockey  Caps,  do.  Hats,  Bath  Bonnets,  Hoods, 

213 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

and  Pullareens  for  Ladies  in  the  most  neat  and  fashionable 
manner  as  in  London.  She  likewise  makes  Bags  and  Tossels 
for  Gentlemen’s  Wiggs,  also  silk  and  velvet  hats  for  Boys,  all 
done  at  very  reasonable  Rates.” 

The  pullareen  was,  of  course,  the  pelerine,  a kind 
of  tippet.  In  1749,  she  advertises  “ masks  for  ladies.” 

In  1750,  the  horsehair  hat  was  introduced  and  long 
remained  popular.  We  notice  importations  of  horse- 
hair hats,  black  horsehair  hats  and  black  and  white 
silk  hats,  in  1 750  ; women’s  masquerade  hats  ; black 
horsehair  and  Leghorn  hats,  women’s  capuchines, 
gauze  snail  shades  with  hoods,  new  fashioned  gauze 
caps,  hoods,  ladies’  paduasoy  hats,  bonnets,  gauze 
caps,  caps  and  ruffles  made  after  the  newest  fashion, 
1751  ; and  coloured  silk  and  horsehair  hats,  1754. 

The  capuchine  was  a cloak  with  a hood,  modelled 
on  the  garment  worn  by  the  Capuchin  friars.  It  long 
continued  to  be  popular,  and  was  often  made  of  beau- 
tiful materials.  Simple  straw  hats  modelled  after 
those  of  milkmaids  and  shepherdesses  in  the  affected 
rusticity  of  the  day,  Leghorn  and  chip  hats,  turbans, 
and  brims  without  crowns,  convenient  for  slipping 
over  the  increasing  “ head  ” of  hair,  now  arrived  in 
bewildering  numbers.  Every  year,  indeed,  every  sea- 
son, brought  some  new  style  in  trimmings.  Some- 
times it  was  a turban,  with  all  its  trimming  piled  on 
top  of  the  crown  ; sometimes  a chip  or  Leghorn  with 
a low  crown  and  a wide  brim  having  a pouf  and  a 
spray  of  flowers  and  a bunch  of  ribbons  with  ends 
hanging  down  the  back  ; sometimes,  a beaver  or 
castor  ; sometimes,  a horsehair  hat  ; and  sometimes, 
a “ shade.” 


214 


The  Dress  of  Women 

The  popularity  of  the  chip  hat  was  due  to  its  adop- 
tion by  the  beautiful  Gunnings,  who  drove  London 
wild  with  their  beauty.  One  of  their  rivals  said  all 
she  needed  to  make  her  as  charming  as  either  of  those 
lovely  sisters  was  an  “elegant  cocked  chip  hat,  with 
a lame  rose  on  the  left  side,  and  tied  under  the  chin 
with  cherry-coloured  ribbons.” 

The  varieties  and  names  for  the  trimmings  for 
both  hats  and  caps  are  legion  ; there  are  ribbons  plain 
and  flowered,  paduasoy,  taffety  and  lutestring  ribbons, 
figured  ribbons,  gauze  ribbons  and  satin  ribbons.  Then 
there  are  plain  and  flowered  gauzes  of  all  kinds,  black 
and  white  lace,  and  silver  lace.  It  may  be  interesting 
to  examine  a typical  assortment  in  i 754  : 

“ M.  Derham,  milliner  from  London,  by  way  of  Philadelphia 
in  the  Rachel , Capt.  Joy,  at  her  shop  near  Alderman  Living- 
ston’s in  South  Street,  has  brought  a genteel  and  new  assort- 
ment of  figur’d  ribbons,  plain  ducapes,  satten  do.,  gauzes,  cat- 
gut, Paris  net,  white  and  coloured  blond  lace,  silk  edgings, 
thread  do.,  striped  and  plain  gauze  handkerchiefs,  Dresden 
ditto,  aprons,  ruffles  both  for  gentlemen  and  ladies,  French 
gloves,  neat  tanned,  glazed  and  satten  gloves,  necklaces  and 
earrings,  fans,  patches  and  court  plaster,  lavender,  hungary 
and  honey  waters,  Chip  hats,  French  silks  for  capuchines,  black 
silk  laces  and  fringes,  hollands,  long  lawns,  clear  flower'd  and 
minionet  ditto,  fine  book  and  other  muslins.  Likewise,  an 
assortment  of  hosiery  and  haberdashery ; fine  green  and  bohea 
tea,  ladies  shoes,  an  assortment  of  cutlery,  cards  and  ink-pow- 
der. Everything  in  the  millinery  way  is  made  up  in  the  newest 
fashion,  such  as  lappet  heads,  caps,  French  handkerchiefs, 
ruffles,  stomachers,  ruffs,  sleeve  and  glove  knots,  shades,  capu- 
chines, hats,  bonnets,  etc.,  at  the  very  lowest  prices.” 

About  1755,  a very  extraordinary  decoration  for 
the  head  was  introduced.  It  appears  to  have  taken 

215 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

the  ladies  by  storm  and  to  have  furnished  caricaturists 
and  satirists  with  some  material  for  amusement.  It 
was  known  as  the  cabriole , cabriolet , or  capriole , and 
the  best  idea  we  can  give  of  it  is  to  refer  to  a contem- 
porary number  of  The  Connoisseur , in  which  there  is 
a letter  ridiculing  the  new  fashion.  This  must  have 
been  more  of  an  ornament  than  a head-dress,  for  the 
author,  when  looking  at  one  of  these  equipages  de- 
signed for  the  head  of  a lady  of  quality,  placed  it  in 
the  palm  of  his  hand  and  remarked  that  he  could  not 
help  fancying  himself  “ Gulliver  taking  up  the  Em- 
press of  Lilliput  in  her  state  coach.  The  vehicle 
itself  ” he  continued,  “was  constructed  of  gold  threads 
and  was  drawn  by  six  dapple  greys  of  blown  glass, 
with  a coachman,  postillion  and  gentleman  within  of 
the  same  brittle  manufacture.”  A few  current  lines 
speak  of  it  thus  : 

“ Here  on  the  fair  one’s  headdress  sparkling  sticks 
Swinging  on  silver  springs  a coach  and  six  ; 

There  on  a sprig  or  slop’d  poupon  you  see, 

A chariot,  sulky,  chaise,  or  vis-a-vis .” 

“ Shades  lorrains,”  bonnets,  and  “hives”  were  ad- 
vertised in  1757;  and  castor  hats  in  1760.  In  1761, 
among  the  newest  fashions  in  head-gear  were  stamped 
shades,  trolly  and  catgut  hoods,  gauze  caps,  Chinese 
bonnets,  felt  hats,  silk  hats  and  bonnets,  blown  lace, 
French  trimmings,  and  newest  ribbons  of  a la  mode , 
— blue,  green,  white,  buff  and  figured.  The  cap  that 
came  into  fashion  about  1762  was  the  “fly,”  modelled 
after  a butterfly.  It  was  edged  with  semi-precious 
stones,  more  often  paste  brilliants  or  garnets.  As  it 
made  a very  bright  frame  for  the  face  and  head,  it 

216 


The  Dress  of  Women 

was  adopted  with  fervour  and  New  York  ladies  could 
have  procured  it  from  the  very  prosperous  milliner 
who  made  the  following  bid  for  custom  : 

“ Elizabeth  Colville,  in  Hanover  Square,  takes  this  method 
to  inform  her  Friends  and  Customers  that  she  intends  carrying- 
on  the  Business  of  a Milliner  in  all  its  Branches;  having  a 
young  Woman  just  come  over  from  England,  who  is  well  ac- 
quainted therewith,  where  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  may  be  sup- 
plied with  everything  in  the  genteelest  Taste  and  greatest 
Despatch. 

“ She  has  now  by  her  a fashionable  assortment  of  Caps,. 
Ruffs,  Handkerchiefs,  Ruffles,  Aprons,  Muffs  and  Tippets,  and 
sundry  other  Things  in  the  Millinery  Way,  and  continues  the 
Business  of  Shop-Keeping  as  Usual. 

“ N.  B.  She  has  to  sell  a House  and  three  Lots  of  Ground 
on  the  College  Ground.” 

The  “fly  cap”  is  advertised  among  the  goods  of 
Nicholas  William  Stuyvesant  in  1764,  in  which  year 
we  find  that  silk  umbrellas,  ivory  fans,  fancy  stom- 
achers, “egrets  and  breast-flowers,”  and  “common 
sable,  squirrel  and  feather  muffs  and  tippets  and  er- 
mine ” are  imported. 

About  this  time,  the  flat  hat  was  particularly  ad- 
mired. A contemporary  remarks  that  it  “affords  the 
ladies  that  arch  roguish  air  which  the  winged  hat  gives 
to  Mercury  ; it  animates  their  faces  with  a degree  of 
vivacity  which  is  not  natural  to  them.”  The  arch, 
roguish  air  was  exactly  what  the  coquettes  of  the  day 
affected,  and  naturally,  the  flat  hat  with  its  variety  of 
ornaments  was  reluctantly  given  up.  We  still  find 
the  same  ribbons,  gauze  catgut  net,  Paris  net,  silver 
and  gold  blond  and  bone  lace,  and  paduasoy  and  lute- 
string ribbons  ; but  novelties  were  constantly  invented 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

to  tempt  the  purse  and  set  off  the  charms  of  the  fair. 
We  may  note  the  new  importations  of  turbans,  chip 
hats  and  bonnets,  Italian  head-dresses,  new  fashioned 
caps,  Leghorn,  Dunstable  and  fine  chip  hats,  in  1 769  ; 
feathers  for  riding  hats  in  1 764 ; black  and  white 

feathers  for  ladies’  riding 
hats,  1767;  Italian  and 
French  flowers,  1767;  and 
black  and  blue  feathers, 
1769.  We  must  not  omit 
the  new  and  fashionable 
“ calash,  ” introduced  by 
the  Duchess  of  Bedford  in 
1765.  This  was  an  enor- 
mous hood,  made  some- 
thing like  the  hood  of  a 
carriage.  It  was  ribbed 
with  whalebones,  thus  en- 
abling it  to  fold,  and  it 
was  tied  with  ribbons  un- 
der the  chin.  A string 
was  attached  to  the  front, 
which  the  wearer  could  pull  and  therefore  draw  the 
hood  over  her  head.  The  calash  was  only  worn  by 
the  women  of  fashion  with  their  enormous  piles  and 
towers  of  hair.  Two  of  these  remarkable  concoc- 
tions appear  upon  page  213.  One  is  of  dark  blue 
and  the  other  of  dark  green  silk.  Both  are  lined  with 
silk.  Close  caps,  very  much  laughed  at  as  night-caps, 
made  with  wings,  appeared  in  1773,  and  were  con- 
sidered very  correct  for  undress. 

An  interesting  and  fashionable  cap  is  worn  by 

218 


Portrait  of  Mrs.  James  Duane 
(Maria  Livingston),  owned  by 
Mrs.  Wilmot  Townsend  Cox. 
See  pages  218,  219. 


The  Dress  of  Women 


Mrs.  James  Duane  (Maria  Livingston,  born,  1728) 
in  her  portrait  that  is  shown  on  page  218. 

Feathers  were  in  great  demand  in  1775,  for  the 
fashion  came  in  to  sweep  the  hair  off  the  forehead 
and  draw  it  high  above  the  face.  The  back  was  orna- 
mented in  rolls  and  two  curls  were  placed  below  the 
ears.  Three  large  ostrich  plumes  were  stiffly  arranged 
upon  the  top  of  the  head  for  full  dress. 


John  Burchet,  stay  and  riding  habit  maker,  from  London  and  Paris, 
at  the  “Sign  of  the  Crown  and  Stays.”  (1  773.) 


219 


Ill 


GLOVES,  SHOES,  AND  STAYS 

Our  colonial  ancestors  wore  many  varieties  of 
gloves.  We  find  among  the  importations  from  time 
to  time  : worsted  and  kid  gloves,  i 743  ; shammy  and 
glazed  gloves  and  silk  mittens,  1 750  ; women’s  and 
maid’s  black  ruff  gloves,  white  kid  and  lamb  gloves, 
glazed  kid  and  lamb,  unbound  and  ribbon-bound 
gloves,  and  coloured  flapped  mittens,  1751;  French 
gloves,  black,  white,  and  coloured  silk  mits,  and  neat 
tanned  and  glazed  satten  gloves,  1 754 ; satten  gloves, 
black  silk  mits,  trimmed  glove-tops,  purple  and 
black  kid  gloves  and  mits,  and  silk  and  worsted  mits, 
1761;  and  purple,  black,  white  and  cloth-coloured 
mits  and  gloves,  silk,  worsted,  kid,  and  lamb’s  gloves, 
and  black  and  coloured  mits,  1769.  In  addition  to 
these  gloves  worn  for  dress,  there  were  “chicken 
skin  ” gloves  made  of  a thin  strong  leather  and  dressed 
with  almonds  and  spermaceti.  These  were  worn  at 
night  to  make  the  hands  “ plump,  soft  and  white.” 

The  laces  and  ribbons  of  the  day  have  already 
been  described  with  the  hats  and  caps.  We  must  re- 
member that  lace  was  used  for  ruffles  which  were  an 
important  finish  to  the  sleeve.  Ruffles  were  also 
made  of  the  popular  gauze  and  lawn,  and  were  plain, 
checked,  or  flowered.  “Dresden  ruffles”  for  men  and 
women  were  advertised  in  1754.  Gauzes,  Paris  net 


220 


The  Dress  of  Women 

and  catgut  came  in  colours,  as  well  as  in  black  and 
white  ; and  lawns  were  clear,  flowered,  spotted,  chec- 
quered,  or  of  the  kind  known  as  “ minionet.”  Hand- 
kerchiefs were  of  silk,  lawn,  satin,  linen  or  gauze.  We 
find  them  designated  as  flowered  bordered,  flowered 
Renting,  Barcelona,  culgee,  rosette,  satin  check,  and 
also  made  of  black  and  light-coloured  gauze,  of  striped 
flowered  and  spotted  lawn,  of  white  with  flowered 
borders,  and  with  flowered  and  striped  borders. 

We  must  not  forget  to  mention  the  important 
apron,  which  was  often  worn  on  dress  occasions. 
This  article  became  extremely  fashionable  in  England 
during  the  reign  of  William  III.,  when  it  was  small 
and  edged  with  lace.  In  the  reign  of  George  II. 
it  was  worn  very  long  and,  sometimes,  was  quite 
plain  in  comparison  to  that  fashionable  in  Queen 
Anne’s  day.  Then  it  was  embroidered  and  orna- 
mented with  gold  or  silver  lace  and  spangles.  Beau 
Nash,  the  autocrat  of  Bath,  very  properly  objected  to 
the  apron,  and  he  forbade  any  lady  wearing  one  to  be 
admitted  to  the  assemblies  at  Bath  ; for  he  said  “ none 
but  Abigails  appear  in  white  aprons.”  For  some  un- 
known reason  aprons  lingered  ; and  we  find  them 
in  New  York,  just  as  we  do  in  London,  made  of 
flowered  and  plain  lawn,  gauze,  gauze  with  trollys 
(evidently  a kind  of  lace)  and  finely  flowered.  In 
1751,  a New  York  lady  offers  a pistole  reward  for  a 
lost  “ fine  flowered  muslin  apron.” 

The  belle  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  paid  much 
attention  to  the  dressing  of  her  feet.  Owing  to  the 
shortness  of  her  hoop  petticoat,  which  subjected  her 
to  so  much  ridicule,  her  shoe  was  always  visible,  and 

221 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

as  long  as  the  wide  spreading  skirt  remained  in 
fashion,  the  style  of  shoe  or  slipper  changed  but  little. 
From  the  many  examples  contained  in  Hogarth’s 
pictures,  we  are  familiar  enough  with  the  slender, 
pointed  toe,  high  vamp,  large  buckles  and  enormous 
heel, — the  type  that  lasted  from  about  1753,  when  we 
read  : 

“ Mount  on  French  heels  when  you  go  to  a ball — 

’Tis  the  fashion  to  totter  and  show  you  can  fall  ” 

to  1771,  when  a lady  was  described  as  wearing  heels 
that  were  three  inches  and  a half  high. 

These  delicate  and  uncomfortable  shoes — for  the 
high  heels  pitched  the  body  forward  and  forced  the 
wearer  to  adopt  a slow  and  mincing  gait — were  fre- 
quently embroidered  with  flowers  on  silk  or  satin  and 
ornamented  with  a diamond,  paste,  or  silver  buckle. 
Again,  they  would  be  made  of  satin,  figured  silk,  dam- 
ask, calimanco,  russell,  or  everlasting.  London  sent 
very  handsome  shoes  to  New  York:  rich  gold  and 
silver-point  shoe-shapes  and  embroidered  shoe-tops 
appeared  in  1750,  with  the  cheaper  red  and  drab  shoes, 
and  women’s  and  girls’  damask,  russell  and  everlasting 
shoes ; silk  and  stuff  shoes  were  imported  in  1751; 
women’s  leather  shoes  and  pumps,  1 760 ; women’s 
satin  shoes,  1761  ; and  women’s  and  maids’  calimanco 
shoes  and  children’s  Morocco  pumps,  1769. 

There  were  several  fashionable  shoemakers  here. 
In  1765,  one  announces  : “Women’s  best  silk,  russell, 
callimanco  and  everlasting  shoes  made  in  New  York, 
equal  if  not  superior  to  any  made  in  London,  by 
James  Wells.”  Another,  was  John  Lasker,  who  lived 
in  Bowling  Green,  next  door  to  Mr.  Samuel  Bayard’s; 

222 


The  Dress  of  Women 

a third,  was  John  Milligan  in  Beaver  Street;  and  a 
fourth  was  Benjamin  Burras,  silk  and  stuff  shoemaker 
in  Broad  Street,  in  1 773.  Clogs  and  pattens,  and 
goloshes  and  silk  ear’d  clogs  appear  in  1 760. 

Cloaks  were  worn  all  through  our  period.  We 
find  short  cloaks,  in  1 75 1 ; scarlet  drab  and  blue 


French  fan  of  the  period,  owned  by  Mrs.  Henry  Draper.  See  page  225. 


cloaks,  1753;  and  women’s  fashionable  short  cloaks, 
1 754.  The  most  popular  of  all  were  the  capuchin, 
which,  as  we  have  already  seen,  had  a hood,  and  the 
cardinal.  The  latter  was  a cloak  like  a cardinal’s  which 
the  ladies  began  to  wear  about  i 760.  Sometimes  they 
were  very  handsome,  being  made  of  buff,  black,  blue, 
and  green  figured  modes.*  Frequently  we  find  special 
advertisements  of  capuchin  and  cardinal  silks  of  all 
colours.  Cardinal  fringe  and  gimp  were  specially 
made  to  trim  these  garments.  The  cardinal  was  a 
kind  of  evening  wrap.  In  1764,  we  read  : 

* A la  mode,  a kind  of  silk. 


223 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“ Lost  out  of  a sleigh  last  Tuesday  evening,  or  taken  by 
mistake  from  the  Assembly  Room,  a new  figured  black  satin 
cardinal  with  spotted  black  and  white  fur  trimmings.  Likewise, 
lost  at  the  ball  at  Mr.  Francis’s  a plain  black  satin  cardinal 
with  figured  brown  and  white  fur  trimmings,  somewhat  worn.” 

In  1774,  fashionable  cloaks  were  of  sage  green 
and  light  brown  trimmed  with  ermine. 

Among  the  miscellaneous  articles,  were  fans  and 
girdles,  1732;  nonesopretties,  1743;  bone  and  coco 
stick  fans,  fine  silver  tippets  with  French  flowers,  a 
rich  silver  net  shape,  cauls,  and  silk  belts,  1 750  ; vel- 
vet masks,  black  patches,  and  an  assortment  of  fans 
and  necklaces,  1751  ; Paris  net  and  catgut  pompoons, 
bugles,  bugle  stomachers,  painted  bone  and  ivory 
stick  fans  and  black  velvet  masks,  1 754  ; enamelled 
snuff  and  patch-boxes,  1760  ; ivory  stick  fans  and  fan- 
mounts,  176 1 ; china,  silver,  snuff  and  patch-boxes, 
1761;  tortoiseshell  pocket-books  with  ivory  leaves 
lettered,  1762;  muffs  and  tippets,  tortoiseshell,  horn 
and  ivory  combs,  black  feathers,  all  sorts  of  Italian 
and  French  flowers,  velvet  collars,  Italian  head- 
dresses, and  plumes  and  breast  flowers,  1767;  ostrich 
feathers  for  riding-hats,  Italian  breast  flowers  and 
plumes,  great  variety  of  ivory  fans,  smelling-bottles, 
ivory  bodkins,  green  silk  purses,  crystal  bosom  but- 
tons, fringe,  black  and  blue  feathers,  skeleton  and  cap 
wire,  and  fashionable  fans,  1769. 

The  fans  of  the  period  were  almost  invariably  of 
beautiful  design.  The  sticks  were  of  carved  wood, 
or  ivory ; sometimes  they  were  imported  from  the 
Orient.  The  mount  was  of  vellum,  silk,  gauze,  or 
paper,  and  beautifully  painted.  Nearly  every  conceiv- 

224 


The  Dress  of  Women 


able  subject  was  thought  appropriate  for  its  decora- 
tion, from  pastorals,  fites-champitres,  classical  figures, 
mythological  fancies,  allegorical  conceits,  emblems, 
scenes  from  operas  and  plays,  royal  marriages,  chris- 
tenings, and  victories  to  caricatures  and  portraits. 
There  were  also  fortune-telling  fans,  riddle  fans, 
calandar  fans,  etc.  Two  handsome  French  fans 
of  the  time,  belonging  to  Mrs.  Henry  Draper,  are 
shown  on  page  223  and  below.  Another,  from  the 
Museum  in  Cooper  Union,  appears  on  page  263. 


French  fan  of  the  period,  owned  by  Mrs.  Henry  Draper.  See  this  page. 


Throughout  our  period,  woman  was  very  particular 
about  her  figure.  She  felt  it  necessary  to  conform 
to  the  fashionable  shape,  which,  generally  speaking, 
was  a long  narrow  bodice  very  tightly  laced.  Young 
girls  and  portly  matrons  alike  squeezed  themselves 
into  the  stiff  cases  of  whalebone,  or  buckram,  or  some- 
times steel,  that  could  produce  the  desired  form.  In 
1734,  stays  were  extremely  low,  but  fashion  decreed 
*6  225 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

that  the  position  of  the  waist  should  vary  every  few 
years,  and  stays  were  sometimes  worn  outside.  Stay- 
makers  were  constantly  arriving  from  London  with 
the  latest  fashions,  and  every  change  in  shape  was 
quickly  followed. 

In  1764,  “Joseph  Beck,  staymaker,  who  served 
his  apprenticeship  with  Mr.  Samuel  Panton  of  Dub- 
lin, and  for  several  years  wrought  with  several  of  the 
most  eminent  Masters  in  London  and  Bath,  removes 
to  Smith  Street,  and  makes  “ English,  French  turn’d 
and  Mecklenburg  Stays  and  Jumps,  in  a new  easy 
Method  that’s  now  used  in  London,  Children’s  Coats 
and  Slips.  Ladies  that  reside  in  the  Country  by  send- 
ing their  Measure  or  the  Lining  of  their  Stays,  may 
depend  on  having  their  commands  executed  with  the 
greatest  Care  and  Despatch.”  A little  later,  he  as- 
sured his  patrons  that  he  would  “always  make  it  his 
constant  Care  to  have  the  newest  Fashions  early  from 
London.”  As  a proof  that  they  did  get  the  newest 
shapes,  we  may  note  that  in  June,  1765  McQueen 
“ has  a quantity  of  the  newest  fashioned  diamond  cut 
bone  stays  ; they  were  made  in  London  since  the  be- 
ginning of  December  last.” 

In  1767,  John  McQueen  called  himself  “stay- 
maker,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Stays.”  He  has  “afresh 
assortment  of  new  fashion’d  stays,  children’s  pack 
thread  stays  from  one  to  eight  years  old,  children’s 
bone  stays  from  one  to  twelve  years  old,  women  and 
maids’  stays  of  different  sorts  and  sizes,  a few  neat 
polished  steel  collars  for  Misses,  so  much  worn  at  the 
boarding  schools  in  London.” 

At  this  date,  stays  were  as  tight  as  ever ; but  were 

226 


The  Dress  of  Women 


high  behind  and  low  before,  and  the  figure  was  carried 
with  a peculiar  fall  of  the  shoulders  and  elevation  of 
the  bust.  Young  girls  were  taught  to  hold  them- 
selves very  stiffly,  and  frequently  a long  needle  was 
stuck  uprightly  in  the  front  of  the  dress,  so  that  if 
the  head  was  bent  over 
too  far,  the  needle  would 
pierce  the  chin.  The 
“ steel  collars  ” mentioned 
above  were,  in  all  proba- 
bility some  device  of  this 
nature.  Much  attention 
was  paid  to  the  holding 
of  the  body  and  the  rigid 
attitudes  of  the  portraits 
were  not  at  all  uncom- 
mon positions. 

It  is  noticeable  that 
these  stay-makers  fash- 
ioned children’s  clothes, 
but  did  not  seem  to  un- 
dertake any  other  outside 
garments  for  ladies  save  jumps,  a kind  of  sleeveless 
coat,  and  “ Mechlinburg  waistcoats.” 

A very  interesting  child’s  costume  appears  on  this 
page,  in  a portrait  of  Catharine  Elmendorph  (1747- 
1 787)  painted  in  1754.  The  dress  is  brown  and  the 
stomacher  white. 

The  bodice  was  cut  to  fit  tightly  over  the  stays  ; 
and  was  low  both  back  and  front  for  evening  dress, 
and  often  high  in  the  back  and  square  in  the  front 
for  ordinary  dress.  Lace,  or  gauze,  ruffles  frequently 

227 


Portrait  of  Catharine  Elmendorph 
( 1 747-1787),  painted  in  1754, 
owned  by  Mrs.  Wilmot  Town- 
send Cox.  See  this  page. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

framed  in  the  neck  and  ornamented  the  sleeves.  An 
excellent  idea  of  a typical  dress  in  George  I Ids  reign 
appears  on  page  297. 

The  stomacher  was  an  important  adjunct  to  the 
bodice.  We  find  it  sometimes  of  stiff  linen  like  the 
one  that  Mrs.  Vallete  wears  on  page  206.  Stomachers 
were  of  gold  and  silver  ; there  were  bugle  stomachers 
(glass  beads)  ; white  dimothy  stomachers  ; and  many 
others.  In  front  of  the  bodice  was  hung  the  “stay- 
hook  ” upon  which  the  watch  or  etui  was  hung.  This 
frequently  appears  in  the  jewellers’  lists.  There  were 
also  breast-flowers,  pompons,  crystal  bosom-buttons, 
breast-buckles,  and  many  other  articles  that  adorned 
the  front  of  the  dress,  and  very  often  a bow  of  ribbon 
was  worn,  as  in  the  portrait  of  Mrs.  Ray  on  page  202, 
who  is  dressed  in  a sea-green  satin  gown.  This 
portrait  was  originally  in  the  King  Mansion  at  Ja- 
maica, L.  I.  Some  of  Mrs.  Ray’s  silver  appears  on 
page  138. 


“ Milligan’s  Woman’s  Shoe  Store.” 


(1768.) 


228 


IV 


HOOPS  AND  MANTUA-MAKERS 

From  the  beginning  of  the  Eighteenth  Century 
until  1789,  the  most  distinguishing  feature  of  woman’s 
dress  was  the  hoop.  It  was  so  large  in  Queen  Anne’s 
time,  that  no-one  could  imagine  it  increasing  in  size. 
However,  despite  the  caricatures  and  the  protests  of 
the  satirists,  hoops  continued  to  distend.  In  1746, 
Mrs.  Delany  wrote  : “ Fexpect  soon  to  see  the  other 
extreme  of  thread  paper  heads  and  no  hoops,  and  from 
appearing  like  so  many  blown  bladders,  we  shall  look 
like  so  many  bodkins  stalking  about.”  But  Mrs. 
Delany’s  prophecy  was  not  fulfilled  until  sixty  years 
later. 

The  hoop  was  really  a great  bell-shaped  petticoat, 
or  skirt  of  the  dress,  stiffened  by  whalebone.  The 
material  was  placed  directly  upon  it,  so  that  being  a 
part  of  the  gown  itself,  it  was  quite  correct  to  speak 
of  it  as  a damask  hoop,  or  a brocade  hoop.  Of  course, 
there  were  simple  petticoats  for  every-day  wear ; but, 
as  a rule,  the  hoop  was  made  of  rich  flowered  brocade, 
silk,  satin  or  velvet.  The  great  expanse  of  the  hoop 
showed  off  the  rich  and  heavy  materials  of  the  day ; 
and  certainly  the  ladies  must  have  made  a ball-room 
look  very  brilliant  in  these  rich  clothes. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  examine  some  of  the 
goods  for  sale  in  the  Georgian  age  in  New  York,  re- 

229 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

membering  that  the  damask  was  a rich  material  that 
came  originally  from  Damascus ; Persian  was  a thin 
silk  much  in  vogue  for  linings ; taffety,  or  taffetas, 
also  a thin  silk,  generally  changeable  ; 
poplin,  silk  shot  with  worsted ; 
t,  a thin  silk  ; lutestring,  a 
fine  corded  silk  ; alamode 
(or  mode)  a plain  silk 
something  like  lutestring  ; 
paduasoy,  a smooth  silk, 
originally  made  in  Padua  ; 
ducape,  a corded  silk  ; rus- 
sell,  a woollen  cloth  ; cal- 
limanco,  a glazed  linen 
stuff.  Certainly  the  ladies 
of  the  period  had  a large 
selection.  The  articles 
upon  the  following  list  ar- 
rived from  1732  to  about 
1769  in  increasingly  large 
quantities  : 

Broadcloths,  calliman- 
coes,  silk  and  worsted  cam- 
lets, mourning  crapes,  Eng- 
lish damasks,  India  damasks,  China  taffeties,  plain, 
striped  and  flowered  Persians,  Cherryderries,  ginghams, 
grograms,  satins,  churconnies,  Soofeys,  Atchabannies, 
mohairs,  muslins,  fine  Spanish  cloths,  1732  ; Venetian 
poplin,  allapeen,  worsted  damask,  Indian  dimities,  mus- 
lins, bandannuses,  chelloes,  light  and  cloth  coloured 
sarcenet,  striped  dimity,  printed  camlets,  watered  gro- 
gram,  worsted  damask,  1743;  striped  satins,  and  silk 

230 


Piece  of  wedding-dress  of  Mary 
Van  Cordandt,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  Peter  Jay  in  1727; 
owned  by  Mrs.  J.  R.  Mat- 
thews. See  page  235. 


The  Dress  of  Women 


poplin,  1 745  ; Irish  silk  poplins,  satin  stripes,  silk  cords, 
Turkey  Tabby,  buckrams,  silk  and  cotton  gowns,  cotton 
Erminetta  gowns,  white  sarcenets,  white,  black,  brown, 
lemon,  blue,  plumb  and  pink  coloured  V3  ell  and  3/4 
wide  lutestring,  green,  blue,  and  pink  coloured  Eng- 
lish damask,  white  watered  tabby,  black  alamode,  blue, 
brown,  and  black  rich  paduasoys,  white  and  pink  col- 
oured ducapes,  fine  flowered  russells  and  damasks,  fine 
china  printed  linen  gowns,  Genoa  silks,  English  dam- 
asks, ducapes,  mantuas,  striped  lutestrings,  watered 
and  flowered  tabby,  changeable  taffeties,  brocades,  and 
black  Persian  watered  grograms,  1750;  lemon  col- 
oured paduasoy,  1751;  yellow  paduasoy,  green  ducape, 
black  velvet,  scarlet  and  Saxon  blue  flowered  damask, 
striped  callimancoes,  Hungarian  stuff,  fine  striped  pop- 
lin, 1752;  plain  and  watered  tabby,  figured  black, 
blue,  pink,  green,  and  white  peelong  satins,  1 760  ; rich 
yellow  and  white  satin,  1764;  green,  blue  and  pink 
satin,  straw-coloured  brocade,  beautiful  striped  and 
figured  lutestring,  satins  for  cloaks  and  gowns,  pee- 
longs  and  modes,  black  and  brown  peelong,  satins, 
figured  sarcenets,  Saxon  green  and  red  naps,  brown, 
blue,  and  scarlet  new-fashioned  Bath  coating,  blue 
and  scarlet  German  serges,  paduasoy,  ducape,  lute- 
string, mantua  and  armozine  silks,  black,  white,  drab, 
green,  crimson  and  sky-coloured  satins  and  peelongs, 
flowered  satins  and  figured  modes,  blue,  green, 
brown,  drab,  Tyrian  and  pompadour  broadcloths, 
crimson  Aurora  cross -barr’d  and  plain  camlets,  a 
variety  of  figured  sarcenets,  black  and  cloth-coloured 
peelong  satins,  scarlet,  blue,  green,  black,  brown  and 
mixt  broad  cloths  ; blue  cloth  for  women’s  wear,  scar- 

231 


lighteenth- century  cut  glass,  originally  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Lewis  ; now  by  Mrs.  Edward  Parke 

Custis  Lewis. 

See  page  163. 


The  Dress  of  Women 

let,  blue,  claret  colour  and  grey  mixt  Bath  beaver 
coatings,  scarlet  and  blue  silk  and  worsted  cord  for 
cloaks  ; blue,  red,  green,  yellow,  brown  and  embossed 
serges;  plain  Venetian,  striped  and  flowered  poplins, 
black  taffeties,  satin  pelong,  Persians,  taffeties,  sarce- 
nets, paduasoy,  ducape,  lutestring,  mantua,  armozine 
silk,  black,  white,  drab,  green,  crimson  and  sky-col- 
oured satin  and  peelongs,  flowered  satins  and  figured 
modes,  and  fine  moreen,  loretto,  and  silk  damask  for 
jackets,  and  Manchester  and  Genoa  velvets,  1769. 

In  addition  to  these  beautiful  lutestrings,  padua- 
soys,  alamodes,  mantuas  etc.,  the  ladies  of  the  Georgian 
court  wore  much  silver  and  gold  brocade  and  rich 
silks  embroidered  in  gold  and  silver.  In  1739,  the 
Duchess  of  Bedford  had  a green  paduasoy,  heavily 
embroidered  in  gold  and  silver  ; Lady  Dysart,  a scar- 
let damask,  worked  richly  with  gold  ; Lady  Percival, 
a white  satin,  embroidered  in  gold  and  silver  ; and,  in 
1 740,  Mrs.  Delany  describes  a dress  she  greatly  ad- 
mired, which  the  Duchess  of  Queensberry  wore  at  a 
reception.  The  material  was  white  satin  embroidered  : 

“ The  bottom  of  the  petticoat  was  brown  hills  covered 
with  all  sorts  of  weeds,  and  every  breadth  had  an  old  stump  of 
a tree  that  run  up  almost  to  the  top  of  the  petticoat,  broken 
and  ragged,  or  worked  with  brown  chenille,  round  which  twined 
nasturtiums,  ivy,  honeysuckles,  periwinkles,  convolvuluses,  and 
all  sorts  of  twining  flowers,  which  spread  and  covered  the  petti- 
coat. Vines,  with  the  leaves  variegated,  as  you  have  seen  them 
by  the  sun,  all  rather  smaller  than  nature,  which  makes  them 
look  very  light : the  robings  and  facings  were  little  green  banks 
with  all  sorts  of  weeds,  and  the  sleeves  and  the  rest  of  the 
gown  loose  twining  branches  of  the  same  sort  as  those  on  the 
petticoats:  many  of  the  leaves  were  finished  with  gold,  and  part 
of  the  stumps  of  the  trees  looked  like  the  gilding  of  the  sun.” 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


On  the  birthday  of  George  IL,  one  of  the  Prin- 
cesses Royal  wore  a white  paduasoy  embroidered 
with  gold  ; another,  a pink  damask  worked  in  silver. 


Portion  of  embroidered  lutestring  worn  by  Mrs.  William  Smith,  at  a ball 
at  Fort  George.  See  below. 

Occasionally,  some  of  these  rich  materials  were  seen 
in  New  York.  On  this  page  appears  a portion  of  a 

234 


The  Dress  of  Women 

dress  that  was  worn  by  Mrs.  William  Smith  (the  wife 
of  Judge  William  Smith)  at  a ball  given  at  Fort 
George  in  honour  of  the  birth  of  the  prince  who 
became  George  III.  The  silk  is  a heavily  corded, 
pinkish  lilac.  It  is  richly  embroidered  with  wreath- 
ing pink  and  red  roses  and  bows  of  ribbon.  At 
regular  intervals,  the  three  Prince  of  Wales’s  feathers 
are  heavily  worked  in  silver  and  raised  nearly  an 
inch  above  the  silk.  The  lace  in  the  same  illustration 
was  worn  with  the  dress.  These  valuable  relics  are 
owned  by  Mrs.  W.  W.  Shippen  of  New  York. 

On  page  230  a simpler  piece  of  brocade  is  shown. 
This  represents  red  roses  with  their  green  leaves  and 
buds  or  seed-pods  upon  a white  ground.  It  is  a 
sample  of  the  wedding  dress  of  Mary  Van  Cortlandt, 
daughter  of  Jacobus  Van  Cortlandt  of  Yonkers,  who 
was  married  to  Peter  Jay  in  1727.  This  belongs  to  a 
descendant,  Mrs.  John  Rutherford  Matthews  of  Van 
Cortlandt  Manor,  Croton-on-Hudson.  Two  other 
bits  of  old  brocade,  belonging  to  Mrs.  Wilmot  Town- 
send Cox  and  Mrs.  French  Ensor  Chadwick,  appear 
on  page  273.  The  former  is  cherry-coloured,  with  the 
figure  of  a white  carnation,  and  belonged  to  Mrs. 
Henry  Bowers.  The  second,  which  has  been  fashioned 
into  a reticule,  was  worn  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Jones  of 
New  York.  It  is  white  with  gay  flowers. 

Later  in  the  century,  thin  materials  sprigged  with 
silver  were  worn.  Two  old  dresses  appear  on  pages 
238  and  242.  The  first  belonged  to  Mrs.  William 
Smith.  The  other  dress  was  the  property  of  Mrs. 
Theodorus  Van  Wyck  Graham  of  Albany,  and  is  owned 
by  her  descendant  Mrs.  C.  E.  Orvis  of  New  York. 


235 


Social  New  York  Under  the  George s 


The  large  flowered  brocades  were  copied  in  cheaper 
goods,  which  were  also  valued. 

The  constant  succession  of  attractive  goods  exhib- 
ited in  New  York  shows  how  the  ladies  found  one  of 
their  diversions  in  shopping.  Sidney  Breese  was  one 
of  those  who  always  published  an  attractive  advertise- 
ment. He  evidently  knew  just  how  to  appeal  to 
feminine  taste.  He  began  airily  enough  in  1761  : 

“ Looking-glasses  upon  Looking-glasses,  Pictures  upon  Pic- 
tures, rich  brocades  gaily  flowered  in  the  newest  Taste,  flowered 
Tabbies,  English  Damask,  Paduasoys  and  Ducapes  of  various 
Colours,  rich  black,  blue,  yellow,  green,  pink,  and  white  pee- 
longs,  cardinal  silks,  striped  and  plain  Lutestrings,  changeable 
Mantuas,  watered  Tabby  ribbons,  black  velvets,  gauze  hand- 
kerchiefs, India  damasks  and  Taffeties,  a large  assortment  of 
Irish  linnen  lawns,  long  lawns,  cambricks,  worsted  hose,  broad- 
cloth, with  a variety  of  Persian  fashioned  carpets.” 

Josiah  Vavasor,  in  1761,  sold  “black  and  white 
gauze,  gauze  caps,  ruffs,  and  handkerchiefs,  Roman 
cloaks,  round  hats  of  all  colours,  children’s  of  all  sizes, 
Jockey  caps  and  feathers,  earrings  and  necklaces,  China 
and  silver  snuff  and  patch-boxes,  seals,  stone  buttons 
and  buckles,  pangs  and  a variety  of  the  newest  Fashion 
ribbands,  black,  white,  buff,  blue,  green  and  figured 
modes,  ivory  stick  fans  and  fan-mounts,  all  sorts  of 
laces,  edging,  and  footings,  French  trimmings,  gimps 
of  all  kinds,  black  and  white  Persian,  neat  black  Bar- 
celona handkerchiefs,  purple  and  black  kid  gloves  and 
mits,  silk  and  worsted  mits,  children’s  worsted  morocco 
shoes,  best  black  satins  and  peelongs,  chintz  and  cot- 
tons, and  a variety  of  other  goods.” 

One  ardent  shopper  acquired  fame  in  1 754  : 

236 


The  Dress  of  Women 


“ Last  week,  a woman  named  Hannah  Davis  began  to  dis- 
play her  ingenuity  in  this  city  by  going  into  shops  and  after 
buying  a trifle  would  always  give  a dollar  to  change  and  whilst 
the  change  was  procuring  would  pick  up  the  dollar,  persuade 
the  people  of  the  shop  she  gave  it  them,  and  so  carry  off  the 
goods,  dollar  and  change,  but  being  negligent  in  her  business 
was  at  length  detected  and  publicly  whipped  for  the  same. 
This  not  being  sufficient  to  deter  her  from  following  a business 
in  which  she  thought  herself  so  great  a proficient,  began  again 
on  Saturday  last,  in  the  market,  and  in  changeing  her  dollar 
with  a countryman  found  means  to  convey  a two  shilling  piece 
into  her  mouth,  but  the  man  perceiving  the  fraud,  seized  her, 
and  endeavouring  to  take  the  money  out  of  her  mouth,  she  bit 
his  fingers  in  a terrible  manner,  for  which  she  is  now  confined 
in  gaol.” 

Fashionable  tailors  made  ladies  riding-habits  and 
josephs,  or  jackets.  Mantua-makers  also  made  all 
sorts  of  loose  garments,  cloaks,  cardinals,  capuchins, 
etc.,  and  sometimes  they  included  a few  articles  for 
gentlemen.  For  instance,  in  1757: 

“ Mary  Wallace  and  dementia  Ferguson,  just  arrived 
from  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  intend  to  follow  the  business  of 
mantua-making,  and  have  furnished  themselves  from  London 
in  patterns  of  the  following  kinds  of  wear  for  ladies  and  gentle- 
men and  have  fixed  a correspondence  so  as  to  have  from  thence 
and  London  the  earliest  fashions  in  miniature.  They  live  at 
Mr.  Peter  Clarke’s,  within  two  doors  of  William  Walton’s,  Esq., 
in  the  Fly.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  that  will  employ  them  may 
depend  on  being  expeditiously  and  reasonably  served  in  mak- 
ing the  following  articles,  that  is  to  say,  Sacks,  negligees,  neg- 
ligee-night-gowns, plain  night-gowns,  pattanlears,  shepherdesses, 
roman  cloaks,  cardinals,  capuchins,  dauphnesses,  shades  lor- 
rains,  bonnets  and  hives.” 

The  sack,  or  sacque , was  introduced  about  1 740, 
and  was  a wide  loose  gown  that  hung  from  the  shoul- 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


ders  to  the  ground  and  was  gathered  in  folds  over  the 
great  hooped  petticoat.  The  night-gown,  mentioned 
above,  was  not  the  garment  that  we  know  by  that 
name ; the  word  was  used  in  the  Georgian  period  for 
evening  dress.  In  1 737,  the 
Countess  of  Shaftesbury  re- 
marked that  Lady  Rane- 
lagh  had  on  at  her  wedding 
“a  straw-coloured  night- 
gown with  silver  and  col- 
ours that  was  extremely 
pretty,  which  cost  thirty 
shillings  a yard.” 

The  negligde  was  a 
loose  open  gown  that  be- 
came popular  about  1 750. 

A London  lady  lost  her 
trunk  in  1751,  and  described 
“ a scarlet  tabby  negligee  trimmed 
with  gold,  a white  damask  negli- 
gee trimmed  with  a blue 

Snail  blond  lace  with  a petti-  Gown  sprigged  with  silver,  orig- 
coat  of  the  same,  and  a sil-  inally  owned  by  Mrs.  William 


ver  brocade  negligde  trimmed 


Smith.  See  page  235. 


with  pink -coloured  silk,” 

among  the  contents.  The  hive  was  a straw-bonnet 
shaped  something  like  a bee-hive. 

The  advertisement  on  page  237  is  further  interest- 
ing on  account  of  an  item  that  must  not  be  missed. 
The  Fergusons  say  that  they  have  arranged  to  get  from 
Ireland  and  London  “the  earliest  fashions  in  minia- 
ture.” At  this  period  and  for  many  years  before,  it 

238 


The  Dress  of  Women 


had  been  the  custom  to  dress  dolls  in  Paris  in  the 
latest  style  and  to  send  them  abroad.  In  1727,  Lady 
Lansdowne  sent  to  one  of  Oueen  Caroline’s  Ladies 
of  the  Bedchamber,  “a  little  young  lady  dressed  in 
the  Court  dress,  which  I would  desire  you  would  show 
to  the  Queen,  and  when  she  has  done  with  it,  let  Mrs. 
Tempest  have  it.”  Mrs.  Tempest  was  a milliner.  In 
1763,  the  famous  hair-dresser,  Legros,  exhibited  in 
Paris  thirty  dolls  wearing  his  latest  arrangements  of 
coiffure,  and  in  1765,  no  fewer  than  a hundred  small 
puppets  showed  the  new  fashions  in  head-dress. 

One  cannot  fail  to  notice  the  constant  mention  of 
muffs  and  tippets.  Feather  muffs  were  very  fashion- 
able after  1760  and  were  worn  with  full  dress.  Muffs 
were  constantly  changing  in  style,  and  were  used  by 
men  as  well  as  women.  An  advertisement  in  this 
year  gives  us  some  idea  of  the  luxurious  uses  of  fur. 
John  Siemon,  who  has  “new-fashioned  muffs  and 
tippets”  and  “fur  travelling  and  sleighing  bearskin 
blankets”  for  sale,  trims  ladies’  robes  and  riding-habits 
with  fur  and  lines  gentlemen’s  coats,  caps  and  gloves. 
He  calls  especial  attention  to  his  choice  black  marten 
throat  tippets.  The  tippet  must  have  been  in  style, 
in  1 775,  if  we  may  judge  from  advertisements  : “ Lost, 
supposed  to  be  between  the  City  Hall  and  the  Bowl- 
ing Green,  a lady’s  tippet  of  a large  size,  a dark  colour 
and  made  of  martin’s  tails.”  Again  : “ Lost,  in  or 
near  Broadway  a lady’s  tippet  made  of  dark  brown 
martin  skins.” 


239 


EXTRAVAGANCE  AND  ECONOMY 


After  having  enumerated  the  various  articles  of 
costume  and  toilets  and  examined  the  contents  of  the 
milliners’  and  mantua-makers’  shops,  it  is  very  evident 
that  the  New  York  woman  of  fashion  differed  slightly, 
if  at  all,  from  her  London  prototype.  If  anything 
more  is  needed  to  prove  this,  we  may  mention  that 
when  Anstey  wrote  his  New  Bath  Guide  in  1 766,  he 
made  a list  of  all  the  articles  that  a belle  was  forced 
to  carry  with  her  to  that  gay  watering-place  : 

“ Bring  O bring  thy  essence-pot. 

Amber,  musk,  and  bergamot, 

Eau-de-chipre,  eau  de  luce, 

Sans-pareil  and  citron-juice  ; 

Nor  thy  band-box  leave  behind, 

Fill’d  with  stores  of  every  kind  ; 

All  the  enraptur’d  bard  supposes, 

Who  to  Fancy,  odes  composes  ; 

All  that  Fancy’s  self  has  feigned, 

In  a band-box  is  contained. 

Printed  lawns  and  checker’d  shades, 

Crepe  that’s  worn  by  love-lorn  maids. 

Water’d  tabbies,  flower’d  brocades, 

Violets,  pinks,  Italian  posies, 

Myrtles,  jessamin,  and  roses, 

Aprons,  caps,  and  kerchiefs  clean, 

Straw-built  hats  and  bonnets  green, 

Catguts,  gauzes,  tippets,  ruffs, 

Fans,  and  hoods,  and  feather’d  muffs, 


The  Dress  of  Women 


Stomachers  and  paris-nets, 

Ear-rings,  necklaces,  aigrets, 

Fringes,  blonds,  and  mignionets, 

Fine  vermilion  for  the  cheek, 

Velvet  patches  a la  greque." 

Everything  included  here  we  have  found  in  the 
shops  and  on  the  toilet-tables  in  New  York,  and  many 
of  them  long  before  1 766.  The  checker’d  shades,  the 
water’d  tabbies,  the  straw  hats,  the  catgut  gauze,  the 
ruffs,  the  tippets,  the  mignionets,  the  feathered  muffs 
and  the  paint  and  patches  had  been  familiar  for  many 
years  to  the  ladies  of  New  York.  They  dressed  for 
the  assemblies,  balls,  routs  and  card-parties  with  the 
same  interest  that  they  did  in  London,  and  had  no  idea 
of  being  behind  the  European  fashions.  They  flirted 
and  ogled  and  chattered  and  amused  themselves  with 
trifles  after  the  custom  of  the  Eighteenth  Century. 
The  letter  that  “ Sally  Tippet  ” wrote  to  one  of  the 
newspapers  gives  an  excellent  insight  into  the  thoughts 
and  ambitions  of  a fashionable  young  woman, — for 
young  she  certainly  seems.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
she  scorns  “home-bred  fashions”  and  is  quite  disdain- 
ful of  the  dressing  of  many  of  the  New  York  ladies. 
She  is  proud  to  have  been  the  first  ever  to  have 
worn  a hat  to  Trinity  Church,  and  that  her  mother 
had  introduced  “ the  reverent  compliment  of  curtsey- 
ing.” Her  description  of  Jenny  Petulant’s  walk  is 
worth  noting.  She  gives  evidence  of  tastes  that  ante- 
date the  merveilleuses  by  thirty  years.  This  letter  ap- 
peared in  1761  : 

“ Ladies,  I cannot  indulge  any  suspicion  of  your  neglect,  in 
examining  strictly  what  is  now  laid  before  every  tea-board  that 
will  be  held  this  week,  and  that  by  any  number  of  ladies,  not 
r7  241 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

less  than  four.  My  oracles,  the  mantua  maker  and  milliner — 
have  most  ungratefully  refused  either  to  make  or  recommend 
a polite  dress  I intended  for  the  maiden  ladies  at  the  expiration 
of  mourning,  though  most  exquisitely  well  calculated  to  admit 
the  cooling  zephyrs  of  a season. 

“ I first  began  to  image  taste  with  the  short  petticoat  and 
white  stockings,  and  have  ever  since  been  so  scrupulous  an  ob- 
server of  it  that  I never  was  the  mark  of  a pinking-iron  behind 

it.  Nothing  however  looks 
more  surfeiting  to  me  than 
your  home-bred  fashions 
and  complements;  there  is 
something  so  rustic,  so 
Bridget-Norton-like  in  them, 
which  is  visible  in  most  of 
our  city  ladies,  that  I believe 
the  one-half  have  neither 
milliners,  dolls,  dressing- 
maids,  dancing-masters,  nor 
indeed  pier-glasses. 

“ My  design  was  to  have 
appeared  the  Sunday  after 
the  4th.  of  June  next  in  a 
blue  Persian  silk  long  robe, 
without  any  under-dress, 
which  I should  have  called 
a Spartan  fly,  because  it 
would  have  been  an  im- 
proved pattern  of  the 
Spartan  maidens’  garments. 
These  virgins,  you  must 
know,  were  obliged  by  law 
to  wear  slits  or  rents  in  their  clothes,  to  discover  the  deli- 
cacy of  their  skins;  which  was  judged  to  be  a great  incite- 
ment to  matrimony  ; for  the  married  women  were  forbid  it. 
But  my  intent  is  of  quite  another  nature  : it  is  to  let  the  polite 
public  know  that,  as  dress  is  upon  the  decline , there  is  one  who 
is  able  and  willing  to  be  an  advocate  in  its  behalf.  This  suit 

242 


Gown  of  gauze  embroidered  in  silver 
and  under-dress  of  white  satin,  origi- 
nally owned  by  Mrs.  Theodorus 
Van  Wyck  Graham  of  Albany  ; now 
by  her  descendant,  Mrs.  C.  E. 
Orvis.  See  page  235. 


The  Dress  of  Women 

of  mine  was  to  have  six  furbelowed  openings,  three  upon  each 
side.  They  were  to  be  cut  from  the  shoulders  to  within  a hair’s 
breadth  of  the  bottom,  to  be  scolloped  and  pinked  all  down 
with  an  edging  around  each  of  green  gimp,  and  every  breadth 
flounced  between  the  openings.  This  most  excellent  Fly,  my 
impertinent  mantua-maker  has  refused  making;  she  says  it  is 
for  my  insisting  on  the  rights  of  Sparta,  that  she  should  be 
liable  to  a penalty  if  she  made  one  for  a married  lady.  But 
the  reason  is  this,  she  has  got  a group  of  chestnut  colour  cus- 
tomers, who  are  flattered  so  much  by  her,  with  the  name  of 
brown  beauties  that  their  heads  are  quite  addled;  and  as  they 
are  pretty  numerous,  it  is  not  her  interest  to  introduce  a fashion 
that  will  show  their  tawny  skins.  So  that  by  the  caprice  of 
mantua-makers,  we  whom  Nature  has  brightened  with  the 
greatest  delicacy,  must  hide  all  our  charms  of  youth  and 
beauty.  Oh  ! intolerable  ! 

“ There  are  yet  some  things  that  are  more  noble  than  dress. 
These  are  regular  motions  in  compliments,  and  well  chosen 
forms. — Herein  our  family  may  boast  precedence  with  any,  for 
in  many  of  the  most  genteel  that  are  now  used  at  the  most  ele- 
gant assemblies  of  fashion,  we  are  originals.  For  my  own  part, 
I am  the  first  that  ever  wore  a hat  at  divine  service  in  Trinity 
Church,  for  which  I quote  ancient  Jerusalem  as  a precedent; 
antiquity  shall  be  my  plan.  As  to  Mamma,  she  was  something 
more  of  a Christian  than  to  follow  this,  but  would  bring  every- 
thing else  to  church;  for  that  reverent  compliment  of  courtesy- 
ing  was  first  brought  in  by  her,  which,  to  her  immortal  memory 
has  continued  (with  a few  innovations)  ever  since. 

“But,  Oh!  could  I refine  the  judgment,  or  clear  the  dim 
sight  of  those  pretty  Ardelois,  who  sidel  us  by  the  hand  to 
church,  I could  live  in  peace  ever  after.  Their  errors  in  some 
things  are  most  monstrous;  no  longer  ago  than  last  Sunday,  as 
I was  coming  from  church,  who  should  be  bouncing  me,  led  by 
Lieutenant  Tickle,  but  the  erect  figure  of  that  all-of-a-piece 
Jenny  Petulant.  She  was  dyed  into  mourning  from  a greasy 
yellow,  which  is  as  rusty  as  a flitch  of  bacon.  But  to  see  her 
cross  the  kennel  at  the  City  Hall  was  killing,  her  hand  was 
stuck  out  to  Mr.  Tickle  with  the  same  air  that  Mrs.  Puritan 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

gives  a copper  to  an  itchy  beggar ; then  up  she  hoisted,  like 
Bacchus  rising  to  bestride  his  tun,  and  slammed  down  again  as 
if  her  foot  had  split  a drum  head.  Many  more  of  these  un- 
couth airs  could  be  mentioned  had  I room. 

“Hi!  ho!  I have  no  card  ladies  for  the  next  Assembly. 
Well ! I may  guess  though,  Miss  Buzz  says,  the  whisper  is  that 
young  Cringe  has  sent  one  to  Miss  Gloss;  if  it’s  true,  as  I fear 
it  is,  by  the  name  of  Phoebus  I’ll  throw  in  his  way  these  four 
lines  of  Ovid’s  that  fit  her  so  well : 

“ ‘ Steal  to  her  closet,  her  close  tiring  place, 

While  she  makes  up  her  artificial  face ; 

All  colours  of  the  rainbow  you’ll  discern, — 

Washes  and  paints  and  what  you’re  sick  to  learn.’ 

“Yours,  yours,  yours, 

“ Sally  Tippet.” 

About  the  end  of  our  period,  the  following  lines 
appeared  in  the  Universal  Magazine , ridiculing  the 
constant  succession  of  changes  in  female  attire  : 

“ Now  dress’d  in  a cap,  now  naked  in  none ; 

Now  loose  in  a mob,  now  close  in  a Joan  ; 

Without  handkerchief  now,  and  now  buried  in  ruff ; 

Now  plain  as  a Quaker,  now  all  in  a puff ; 

Now  a shape  in  neat  stays,  now  a slattern  in  jumps  ; 

Now  high  in  French  heels,  now  low  in  your  pumps  ; 

Now  monstrous  in  hoops,  now  trapish,  and  walking 

With  your  petticoats  clung  to  your  heels  like  a maulkin ; 

Like  the  cock  on  the  tower,  that  shows  you  the  weather, 

You  are  hardly  the  same  for  two  days  together.” 

This  might  almost  be  taken  as  a review  of  the 
whole  Georgian  era.  Every  slightest  change  was 
noted  in  New  York.  The  ladies,  as  we  have  seen, 
had  their  stays  cut  in  the  latest  fashion,  altered  the 
shape  of  the  hoop  petticoat  every  now  and  then  ; 
wore  a dozen  ruffles  at  their  sleeves  or  none  at  all  ; 
adorned  their  heads  with  lappets  or  discarded  these 

244 


The  Dress  of  Women 


for  a cap  ; — in  short,  they  made  a business  of  following 
the  fashion.  In  1754,  a local  paper  publishes  the  fol- 
lowing : 

“ A RECEIPT  FOR  MODERN  DRESS 

“ Hang  a small  bugle  cap  on  as  big  as  a crown, 

Snout  it  off  with  a flower,  vulgo  diet,  a pompoon  ; 

Let  your  powder  be  grey,  and  braid  up  your  hair 
Like  the  mane  of  a colt,  to  be  sold  at  a fair. 

A short  pair  of  jumps  half  an  ell  from  your  chin, 

To  make  you  appear  like  one  just  lying  in  ; 

Before,  for  your  breast,  put  a stomacher  bib  on, 

Ragout  it  with  cutlets  of  silver  and  ribbon. 

Your  neck  and  your  shoulders  both  naked  should  be, 

Was  it  not  for  Vandyke  blown  with  Chevaux  de  Frize. 

Let  your  gown  be  a sack,  blue,  yellow,  or  green, 

And  frizzle  your  elbows  with  ruffles  sixteen ; 

Furl  off  your  lawn  aprons  with  flounces  in  rows, 

Puff  and  pucker  up  knots  on  your  arms  and  your  toes  ; 

Make  your  petticoats  short,  that  a hoop  eight  yards  wide 
May  decently  show  how  your  garters  are  tied. 

With  fringes  of  knotting,  your  dicky  cabob 
On  slippers  of  velvet  set  gold  a-la-daube. 

But  mount  on  French  heels  when  you  go  to  a ball, 

’Tis  the  fashion  to  totter  and  shew  you  can  fall ; 

Throw  modesty  out  from  your  manners  and  face, 

A-la-mode  de  Frangois  you’re  a bit  for  his  Grace.” 

The  following  lines  also  appear  in  1756  : 

“ The  dress  of  the  year  55  that  was  worn 

Is  laid  in  the  grave  and  new  fashions  are  born  : 

Then  hear  what  your  good  correspondents  advance, 

’Tis  the  Pink  of  the  Mode  and  dated  from  France : 

Let  your  cap  be  a butterfly  slightly  hung  on 
Like  the  shell  of  a lapwing  just  hatch’d  on  her  crown 
Behind,  with  a coach  horse  short  dock,  cut  your  hair 
Stick  a flower  before  Screw-whiff  with  an  air, 

A Vandicke  in  frize  your  neck  must  surround, 

Turn  your  lawns  into  gauze,  let  your  Brussels  be  blond  ; 

Let  your  stomacher  reach  from  shoulder  to  shoulder, 

And  your  breast  will  appear  much  fairer  and  bolder. 

245 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“ Wear  a gown  or  a sack  as  fancies  prevail, 

But  with  flounces  and  furbelows  ruffle  your  tail. 

Let  your  hoop  show  your  stockings  and  legs  to  your  knees, 

And  leave  men  as  little  as  may  be  to  guess. 

For  other  small  ornaments,  do  as  before, 

Wear  ribbons  a hundred  and  ruffles  a score  ; 

Let  your  tail,  like  your  dress,  be  fantastic  and  odd, 

And  then  you’ll  show  a way  in  taste  A-la-mode." 

Another  for  the  same  year  is  called 

“THE  PETITION 

“ Artful  painter  by  this  plan 
Draw  a female  if  you  can. 

Paint  her  features  bold  and  gay, 

Casting  modesty  away  ; 

Let  her  hair  the  mode  express, 

And  fantastic  be  her  dress. 

Cock  her  up  a little  hat 
Of  various  colours,  this  and  that ; 

Make  her  cap  the  fashion  new, 

An  inch  of  gauze  or  lace  will  do. 

Cut  her  hair  the  shortest  dock ; 

Nicely  braid  the  forehead  lock; 

Put  her  on  a negligee, 

A short  sack,  or  shepherdee 
Ruffled  up  to  keep  her  warm, 

Eight  or  ten  upon  an  arm. 

Let  her  hoop  extending  wide 
Show  her  garters  and  her  pride. 

Her  stockings  must  be  pure  and  white 
For  they  are  seldom  out  of  sight. 

Let  her  have  a high-heeled  shoe, 

And  a glittering  buckle  too. 

Other  trifles  that  you  find, 

Make  quite  careless  as  her  mind. 

Thus  equipped,  she’s  charming  ware 
For  the  races  or  the  fair.” 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  foregoing  verses  the 
smallness  of  the  cap  was  ridiculed.  In  1754,  a fashion 
journal  remarked  that  the  long  lappets,  the  horseshoe 

246 


The  Dress  of  Women 


cap,  the  Brussels  head,  and  the  prudish  mob  pinned 
under  the  chin  had  all  had  their  day.  “ The  present 
mode,”  it  continued,  “ has 
routed  all  these  superflu- 
ous excrescences  and  in 
room  of  a slip  of  cambric 
or  lace  has  planted  a 
whimsical  sprig  of  span- 
gles or  artificial  flowerets.’’ 

Even  when  the  exciting 
days  of  the  Revolution 
were  approaching,  the 
merchants  still  offered  at- 
tractive goods  and  the 
ladies  were  enabled  to 
make  themselves  as  at- 
tractive as  ever.  At  the 
beginning  of  1775,  we 
find  the  following  : 

“ Henry  Wilmot,  in  Hanover  Square,  sells  (among  other 
things)  a great  variety  of  ribbons,  persians,  modes,  sarsinets, 
peelong;  broad,  narrow  edging  and  double  edge  blond  and 
black  laces  of  all  prices;  minionet,  thread,  trolly  and  Dutch 
laces,  scarlet  and  other  coloured  cloak  trimmings,  skeleton  and 
cap  wires,  black  and  other  coloured  single  and  double  ostrich 
feathers,  cambrices  clear,  flowered  and  long  lawns,  dark  ground 
and  other  calicoes  and  chintzes,  breeches  patterns,  white 
worsted,  gauze  and  cotton  hose,  almost  every  sort  of  fans, 
earrings  and  necklaces;  with  many  articles  in  the  jewel- 
lery way.  Prepared  hairs  of  all  sorts  and  wig-makers  trim- 
mings.” 

Before  dismissing  the  ladies  altogether,  we  may 
note  that  while  they  were  luxurious  and  fond  of  dress, 

247 


Portrait  of  Cornelia  Beekman  (Mrs. 
William  Walton,  1708—1786); 
in  possession  of  the  Beekman 
family.  Seepage  255. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

they  were  also  economical.  They  understood  the  use 
of  the  needle  and  were  not  averse  to  repairing,  patch- 
ing, darning  and  remodelling  old  garments.  Even  if 
they  kept  up  with  new  fashions,  they  wore  their  clothes 
carefully  and  frequently  handed  them  down  to  the 
next  generation.  Some  women  actually  made  a busi- 
ness of  repairing.  Thus 

(Dec.  4,  1749.)  “Elizabeth  Boyd  is  removed  to  Bayard’s 
Street,  near  Mr.  Cruger’s,  where  she  follows  as  usual  new  graft- 
ing and  footing  all  sorts  of  stockings,  making  and  mending  of 
silk  gloves,  mittens,  muftees,  and  making  childern’s  stockings, 
and  plain  work.  Likewise  if  any  young  lady  has  a mind  to 
learn  for  the  benefit  of  their  own  family,  they  may,  in  a short 
time,  for  a reasonable  price.” 

Two  years  later,  she  was  next  door  to  the  Widow 
Hogs,  near  the  Long  Bridge,  where  she  “ continues 
to  graft  pieces  in  knit  Jackets  and  Breeches,  not  to 
be  discerned,  also  to  graft  and  foot  stockings,  and 
Gentlemen’s  gloves,  Mittens  or  Muffatees  made  out 
of  old  stockings,  or  runs  them  in  the  Heels  ; She 
likewise  makes  children’s  stockings  out  of  old  ones.” 
Muffatees  were,  of  course,  for  the  wrists. 

Ladies,  probably,  did  the  most  of  their  repairing 
themselves.  If  they  wanted  to  wash  their  laces  or 
any  other  cherished  articles,  they  could  procure  from 
Hugh  Game  some  very  fine  crown  soap  which  he 
imported  and  sold.  This  was  specially  recommended 
for  the  washing  of  fine  linen,  muslin,  silk,  lace,  chintz, 
calico,  and  for  the  use  of  barbers. 

There  were  also  many  cleaners,  scourers  and  dyers 
that  the  ladies  patronized,  taking  to  them  not  only 
their  garments,  but  bed-curtains  and  hangings  and 

248 


The  Dress  of  Women 


various  household  furnishings.  One  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  these  in  1750  was  thus  announced  : 

“ Thomas  Davis,  Dry  Scourer  from  London,  now  lives  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Leigh,  School  Master  in  Bridge 
Street,  near  the  Long  Bridge  where  he  cleans  all  sorts  of  Gentle- 
men and  Ladies  Cloaths,  Gold  and  Silver  Lace,  Brocades  and 
embroidered  work,  Points  d’  Espagne,  Cuffs  and  Robings, 
wrought  Beds,  hangings  and  tapestry,  flowered  velvets  and 
chints  without  hurting  their  flowers,  at  a reasonable  rate.” 


‘‘Peter  Hulick,  stay-maker.”  (1774.) 


249 


VI 


JEWELRY  AND  ORNAMENTS 

In  many  inventories  of  well-to-do  New  Yorkers, 
one  or  two  jewels  are  mentioned.  Nearly  every- 
body owned  a gold  or  silver  watch.  A chain  of 
pearls  and  a few  diamond  rings  were  not  uncommon 
possessions.  We  even  find  Captain  Smith  (1709) 
with  an  “ instrument  to  try  pearls,”  which  certainly 
looks  as  if  he  tested  them  before  he  bought  or  sold 
them.  Captain  Giles  Shelly  (1718)  owned  much 
jewelry  and  a mother-of-pearl  box.  He  had  a pearl 
necklace,  a gold  chain  and  pendants,  eight  gold  beads, 
one  amber  and  three  red  bead  necklaces,  a parcel  of 
stones  and  beads,  a piece  of  coral,  a string  of  pearls, 
six  gold  pins  with  pearl  heads,  two  India  gold  chains, 
six  gold  rings,  two  silver  rings,  twelve  gold  rings  with 
stones,  one  agate  seal,  and  part  of  a collar. 

A few  advertisements  of  different  dates  will  give 
an  idea  not  only  of  the  kind  of  gems  that  people  were 
wearing  in  these  days,  but  how  they  were  actually 
set.  In  1 734,  somebody  had  “Lately  lost  a gold 
girdle  buckle  , set  around  with  small  diamonds.”  The 
following  is  very  explicit  : 

(Nov.  27,  1749.)  “ Lost  on  Thursday  evening  last  at  or 

going  from  the  house  of  Mr.  Ramsey,  an  earring  the  upper  part 
whereof  is  in  shape  of  a knot,  set  with  small  diamonds,  and  the 
lower  part  a drop  with  a diamond  in  the  middle  and  some  dia- 
mond sparks  round.  Two  pistoles  reward.’' 

250 


The  Dress  of  Women 

This  must  have  been  a handsome  jewel,  for  the 
reward  was  generous.  A larger  reward  was  offered, 
however,  in  1757,  by  Mr.  Naphtaly  Hart  Myers  who 
was  willing  to  give  five  pistoles  reward  for  his  lost 


Lorgnette,  seal  rings  and  watches  owned  by  Angelica  Schuyler  Church ; 
now  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  S.  Church.  See  page  254. 

“ Hoop  Ring  set  round  with  Diamonds.”  Two  other 
advertisements  of  1761  and  1762  read: 

ic  Lost,  a Diamond  Ring,  on  which  is  a Heart  and  Crown, 
both  Diamonds.  Whoever  has  found  the  same  and  will  bring 
it  to  the  Printer  hereof,  shall  have  forty  shillings  reward.” 

“ Stolen  out  of  a House  near  Ellis’s  Dock  on  Friday  night, 
being  the  5th  of  February,  one  Diamond  Ring  with  seven  Dia- 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

monds,  three  large  and  four  small ; one  Diamond  in  most  the 
shape  of  a Flower  Pot ; one  Ring  with  four  Diamonds  and  a 
flat  stone  with  a little  Hair  under ; one  Diamond  Girdle  Buckle 
with  about  thirty  or  thirty-two  Stones;  one  plain  gold  Ring, 
maker’s  name,  P V B,  and  jQ 12  in  cash.” 

The  three  most  important  jewellers  of  New  York 
seem  to  have  been  Peter  Lorin,  Charles  Dutens  and 
Charles  Oliver  Bruff.  The  first  appears  in  1 749,  when 
he  announces  : 

“ Peter  Lorin  from  London  sets  after  the  neatest  and  new- 
est fashions,  all  sorts  of  jewels,  rings,  solitiars,  lockets,  seals 
etc.  He  has  to  dispose,  sundry  diamonds,  rings,  a parcel  of 
the  best  pastes  in  earrings  and  aigrettes.  He  intends  to  make 
a short  stay  in  this  place.” 

He  evidently  remained  longer  than  he  had  pur- 
posed, for  in  the  following  year  he  advertises  that  he 
“ sets  after  the  neatest  and  newest  fashions  all  sorts 
of  Jewels,  Rings,  Ear-rings,  Solitaires,  Lockets,  Ai- 
grettes, Stay-Hooks,  Seals,  as  also  Diamonds,  Rubies, 
Emeralds,  Saphires,  or  any  other  kind  of  Stones,  to 
the  best  Advantage,  at  very  reasonable  Rates.” 

Charles  Dutens  announced  in  1 75 1 : 

“ Gentlemen  and  Ladies  who  want  any  Diamond  Rings, 
Mourning,  Fancy,  Enamell’d  or  Motto  do.,  Stone  Buttons  set 
in  Gold,  Ear-Rings,  Solitairs,  Stay-Hooks,  Seals  or  Lockets, 
may  be  faithfully  served  in  the  cheapest  manner  by  Charles 
Dutens  at  Mrs.  Eastham’s,  near  the  Long  Bridge.  He  also  sets 
Rubies,  Saphires,  Diamonds,  Emeralds,  or  any  other  kind  of 
Stones  after  the  Newest  Fashion  to  the  best  Advantage.”  A 
little  later  in  the  same  year,  he  “ makes  Hoop  Rings  set  all 
round,  likewise  Fancy  Rose  and  all  sorts  of  Rings  etc.  He  has 
some  beautiful  Stones  fit  for  Gentlemen’s  waistcoats  for  the 
Season  ; likewise  a small  parcel  of  Diamonds  and  Emeralds  fit 
for  Ear-rings  or  Rings.” 


252 


The  Dress  of  Women 

We  find  Mr.  Bruff  in  New  York  from  1763  until 
1776,  constantly  tempting  both  sexes.  In  the  first 
named  year  he  appeared  with  the  following  : 

“ Charles  Oliver  Bruff,  goldsmith  and  jeweller,  at  the  sign 
of  the  Tea-pot  and  Tankard,  in  Maiden  Lane,  near  the  Fly 
Market,  having  employed  a Jeweller  from  London  who  under- 
stands making  or  mending  any  kind  of  diamond  or  enameH’d 
work  in  the  jewelry  way.  Also  makes  and  mends  all  manner 
of  stone  buckles,  stone  rings,  earrings,  broaches,  seals,  solitairs, 
hair  jewels,  lockets,  enamell’d.  Makes  all  manner  of  sleeve 
buttons,  mourning  rings  of  all  sorts,  trinkets  for  ladies,  plats 
hair  in  a curious  manner  in  true  lovers’  knots  for  buttons,  rings 
or  lockets,  plain  or  enamell’d,  gold  necklaces  or  stone  of  all 
sorts.  Said  Bruff  makes  all  sorts  of  silversmiths’  work,  mends 
old  work  in  that  way,  and  has  put  himself  to  a great  expense 
in  sending  to  London  for  diamonds  and  all  manner  of  precious 
stones,  and  he  hopes  for  the  encouragement  of  the  Gentlemen 
and  Ladies  of  this  City,  as  he  will  study  to  use  them  well.” 

When  we  take  leave  of  him  in  1775,  we  find  that 
his  sign  was  the  Tea-Pot,  Tankard  and  Ear-ring 
although  he  still  lived  in  Maiden  Lane  and  Crown 
Street.  He  had  added  the  art  of  the  lapidary,  and  it  is 
very  interesting  to  note  the  kind  of  emblems  and  sub- 
jects people  like  for  their  seals,  rings  and  other  trinkets. 
It  would  seem  too  that  working  in  hair  was  a new 
fashion.  But  let  us  allow  him  to  speak  for  himself  : 

“ Charles  Oliver  Bruff  at  the  sign  of  the  Tea-Pot,  Tankard 
and  Ear-ring,  between  Maiden  Lane  and  Crown  Street,  near 
Fly  Market,  makes  and  mends  all  kinds  of  diamond  or  enamelled 
work  in  the  jewellery  way ; also  all  manner  of  stone  buckles, 
solitaires,  hair  jewels,  lockets,  enamelled  sleeve  buttons,  mourn- 
ing rings  of  all  sorts,  trinkets  for  ladies,  rings  and  lockets,  plain 
or  enamelled;  gold  necklaces  and  stones  of  all  sorts.  Like- 
wise makes  and  mends  all  sorts  of  silversmith’s  work  ; also 
ladies’  fans  neatly  mended.  He  gives  the  highest  price  for  old 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


gold  silver  and  jewels;  buys  rough  coral,  handsome  pebbles 
and  black  cornelian,  fit  for  seal  stones.  He  has  fitted  a lapi- 
dary mill  up  where  he  cuts  all  sorts  of  stones,  engraves  all  sorts 
of  coins,  crests,  cyphers,  heads  and  fancies,  in  the  neatest 
manner  and  greatest  expedition,  with  the  heads  of  Lord  Chat- 
ham, Shakespeare,  Milton,  Newton,  Pope,  Homer,  Socrates, 
Hannibal,  Marc  Anthony,  Caesar,  Plato,  Jupiter,  Apollo,  Nep- 
tune, Mars,  Cleopatra,  Diana,  Flora,  Venus,  Marcelania,  Masons 
arms,  with  all  emblems  of  Liberty ; Cupid  fancies,  hearts  and 
doves  neatly  engraved  for  ladies’  trinkets;  likewise  silver  and 
steel  seals.  He  also  plaits  hair  in  the  neatest  manner.  N.  B. 
Takes  likenesses  off  in  hair  as  natural  as  possible,  as  to  the 
form  of  visages,  works  hair  in  sprigs,  birds,  figures,  cyphers, 
crests  and  cupid  fancies.” 

Mr.  Naphtaly  Hart  Myers,  who  lost  his  Hoop  ring* 
in  175  7,  was  a dealer  who  made  periodical  trips  to 
Europe.  In  1764,  he  offered  for  sale  “a  sett  of 
jewels,  consisting  of  a pair  of  three  drop  diamond 
earrings,  Egrat,  Salatair,  Hoop  and  other  Rings.” 

A vast  amount  of  paste  was  also  worn.  Paste 
glittered  everywhere  from  the  aigrettes  in  the  coiffure 
to  the  buckle  on  the  shoe. 

On  pages  191  and  256  is  shown  specimen  jewelry 
of  the  time.  Page  191  shows  some  shoe,  stock  and 
knee-buckles  of  gold  and  silver.  These  are  arranged 
to  show  the  obverse  of  each  pair.  On  the  same  il- 
lustration are  chatelaines,  watches  and  buttons.  Two 
more  watches  with  other  articles  appear  on  page 
251.  Page  256  shows  a collection  of  brooches,  ear- 
rings, rings,  pendants,  two  necklaces  and  a bracelet  of 
brilliants  or  marquisate,  known  as  paste. 

Turning  now  to  the  importations  of  jewelry,  we 
may  note  French  necklaces,  sleeve-buttons  and  New 
York  pattern  buckles,  in  1 743  ; scarf-buttons,  in  1745  ; 

254 


The  Dress  of  Women 

watches  and  earrings  of  various  sorts,  in  1747;  silver 
girdles,  necklaces,  silver  set  sleeve  and  waistcoat  but- 
tons, and  breast  and  shirt  metal  buttons,  in  1 750 ; 
breast-buckles,  the  most  fashionable  earrings,  neck- 
laces, and  bracelets,  in  1 760 ; shoe,  knee,  stock  and 
girdle-buckles,  amber  and  garnet  necklaces,  silver 
pinchbeck  watches  and 
seals,  paste  set  and  jap’d 
hair  pins,  elegant  paste 
and  double  gilt  shoe 
and  knee  buckles,  and 
paste  and  mock  garnet 
necklaces  and  earrings, 
and  French,  India  and 
pearl  necklaces  and  ear- 
rings, 1767;  very  neat 
paste  set  tortoise-shell 
combs,  paste  shoe  and 
knee  buckles,  paste  gar- 
net jet,  wax  and  pearl  necklaces  and  earrings,  stone 
sleeve-buttons  and  carnelian  and  paste  seals,  pearl  neck- 
laces, necklaces  and  black  beads,  stone  sleeve-buttons 
set  in  silver,  paste  earrings,  mock  garnets,  stone-set  hair 
pins,  coral  bells,  rings  for  necklaces,  and  crystal  bosom 
buttons,  1 769.  One  of  the  ordinary  necklaces  of  the 
day  appears  on  this  page.  It  is  of  imitation  opal  and 
diamonds.  A handsome  pearl  necklace  and  earrings 
are  worn  by  Cornelia  Beekman  on  page  247. 

Sleeve-buttons  were  somewhat  uncommon,  on 
account  of  the  enormous  amount  of  lace  ruffles  worn. 
A few  have  occurred  in  the  above  importations,  and 
the  following  loss  was  published  in  1733  : 

255 


Set  of  jewelry  owned  by  Mrs.  W. 
Sherwood  Popham.  See  this  page. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“ Lost  between  Bowery  Lane  and  Greenwich,  a Pair  of 
Gold  Sleeve  Buttons.  Whoever  shall  find  said  Buttons  and 


Paste  and  marquisate  necklaces,  bracelet,  earrings,  brooches  and  rings  ; 
originals  in  the  Museum  for  the  Art  of  Decoration,  Cooper  Union. 
See  page  254. 


bring  them  to  Mr.  Todd,  next  door  to  the  Coffee  House  in  New 
York,  shall  have  a sufficient  reward.” 

256 


PART  VI 
AMUSEMENTS 


18 


PART  VI 


AMUSEMENTS 


I 

OUTDOOR  SPORTS 

At  all  seasons  of  the  year,  the  New  Yorker  was 
fond  of  both  outdoor  and  indoor  amusements.  The 
traditional  sour-visaged  Puritan  would  have  been  out 
of  place  here.  There  was  singing,  dancing  and  feast- 
ing all  the  year  round.  In  the  winter  there  was  shoot- 
ing, skating  and  sleighing.  In  1704,  Madame  Knight 
noticed  the  pleasure-loving  character  of  the  town  : 

“They  are  not  strict  in  keeping  the  Sabbath  as  in  Boston 
and  other  places  where  I had  been.  . . . They  are  sociable  to 
one  another,  and  courteous  and  civil  to  strangers  and  fare  well 
in  their  houses.  . . . Their  diversion  in  the  winter  is  riding 
sleys  about  three  miles  out  of  town,  where  they  have  houses  of 
entertainment  at  a place  called  the  Bowery  ; and  some  go  to 
friends’  houses,  who  handsomely  treat  them.  Mr.  Borroughs 
carry’d  his  spouse  and  daughter  and  myself  out  to  one  Madame 
Dowe’s,  a gentlewoman  that  lived  at  a farm-house  who  gave  us 
entertainment  of  five  or  six  dishes,  and  choice  beer  and  me- 
thegolin,  cyder,  etc.  all  which  she  said  was  the  product  of  her 
farm. 

“ I believe  we  met  fifty  or  sixty  sleys  that  day;  they  fly 
with  great  swiftness,  and  some  are  so  furious  that  they’ll 
turn  out  of  the  path  for  none  but  a loaden  cart.  Nor  do  they 
spare  for  any  diversion  the  place  affords,  and  sociable  to  a 

259 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


degree,  theyr  tables  being  as  free  to  their  neighbours  as  to 
themselves.” 

The  absence  of  anything  approaching  asceticism 
in  the  character  of  the  community  as  a whole  became 
still  more  marked  as  wealth  increased.  Deep  drink- 
ing and  gambling  both  were  very  prevalent.  Men  of 
all  classes  celebrated  the  New  Year  with  revelry  which 
sometimes  terminated  tragically.  It  was  difficult  to 
stop  gambling.  In  1742,  it  was  declared  that  gaming 
at  taverns  and  other  public-houses  for  money  or  strong 
liquors  had  by  fatal  experience  been 
found  to  be  attended  with  many 
evil  consequences  not  only  by 
violating  and  corrupting  the 
manners  of  the  people,  encour- 
aging them  to  idleness,  deceit  and 
many  other  immoralities,  but  that 
it  had  a manifest  tendency  to  the 
ruin  of  many.  It  was  therefore  en- 
acted that  if  any  innkeeper  should 
thenceforth  keep  any  billiard-table, 
truck-table,  or  shuffleboard-table,  and 
permit  anybody  to  game  by  day  or 
night,  he  should  be  fined  twenty 
shillings  for  each  offence.  He  was  also  to  be  fined 
£5  if  he  allowed  any  youths  under  the  age  of  21,  or 
any  apprentice,  journeyman,  servant,  or  common  sailor 
to  gamble  with  dice  or  cards.  Thus  gambling  was 
reserved  for  merchants  and  the  gentry. 

Lotteries,  when  properly  authorized,  were  scarcely 
recognized  as  a form  of  gambling.  They  were  used 
for  all  sorts  of  purposes,  such  as  building  gaols,  hos- 

260 


Silver  bowl  original- 
ly owned  by  Dr. 
Samuel  Johnson  ; 
now  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  E. 
Ver  Planck.  See 
page  285. 


Amusements 


pitals,  colleges  and  churches,  and  for  disposing  of  real 
estate.  When,  however,  people  began  to  multiply 
lotteries  for  individual  profit,  laws  were  made  to  stop 
them.  In  1747,  an  Act  against  private  lotteries  was 
passed  to  remedy  the  “ pernicious  consequences  to 
the  public  by  encouraging  numbers  of  labouring 
people  to  assemble  at  taverns  where  such  lotteries  are 
usually  set  on  foot  and  drawn. ” At  a lottery  in  1765 
some  of  the  prizes  were  : curious  silver  coffee-pots, 
tankards,  pint  mugs,  sauce-boats,  punch-strainers,  curi- 
ous chiming  table  clocks,  gold  rings,  gold  rings  set 
with  diamonds,  snuff-boxes,  beautiful  French  fans, 
shoe  and  knee-buckles,  silk  umbrellas,  and  a library  of 
books,  including  Swift,  Pope,  Addison,  Shakespeare, 
Gay,  Smollett,  Hume,  Steele  and  Lady  Montagu’s 
Letters  of  Travel. 

Shooting  was  a favourite  sport,  and  there  Was 
plenty  of  game  at  hand.  We  have  already  seen  that 
for  a long  time  it  was  customary  for  people  to  shoot 
over  other  men’s  land.  Deer  were  scarce  in  the  imme- 
diate neighbourhood  of  the  city,  but  plentiful  on  Long 
Island.  In  1706,  an  Act  to  preserve  deer  made  a 
close  season  from  January  1 to  August  1,  in  Suffolk, 
Queens,  Kings,  Westchester  and  Richmond. 

Fatal  accidents  due  to  carelessness  or  defective 
sight,  when  one  hunter  mistook  another  for  the  game, 
were  as  common  then  as  now.  These  were  sometimes 
reported  rather  flippantly. 

One  of  these,  in  1 734,  reads  : 

“We  hear  that  on  Tuesday  last  one  Reynier  Sickelse,  at 
Gravesend  on  Long  Island,  being  out  a Hunting  and  by  Chance 
espied  a Fox,  which  he  pursued,  and  after  some  time  thought 

261 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


he  saw  the  Fox,  behind  some  Bushes,  and  Fired  at  it ; but  when 
he  came  to  the  Place  (without  doubt  to  his  great  amazement) 
he  found  that  he  had  shot  a Woman  who  was  busy  gathering 
some  Berries.  The  fatal  mistake  was  occasioned  by  her  wear- 
ing an  Orange  Brown  Wast-Coat.  The  Man  is  in  a very  melan- 
choly condition.” 

Another  reads  (1754)  : 

“A  melancholy  affair  happened  near  this  City.  One  Jacob 
Kool,  in  his  rounds  a gunning,  noticed  something  moving  in  a 
thicket  of  bushes  and  not  readily  distinguishing  the  object, 
imagined  it  to  be  a bear;  and  having  no  bullets  about  him, 
withdrew  to  a neighbouring  house  and  requested  a number, 
telling  the  people  there  was  such  a beast  at  a small  distance. 
Upon  this  two  of  the  inhabitants,  one  Johan  Baltas  Dash,  and 
a negro  man,  taking  down  their  pieces,  they  all  three  loaded 
with  balls,  and  coming  near  the  thicket,  Kool  discharged  his 
gun  into  the  middle  of  it,  as  did  likewise  the  others,  when  hear- 
ing a groan  and  seeing  the  motion  of  a man’s  leg,  they  found 
their  mistake.  It  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  body  of  Mr.  Cor- 
nelius Vonk  of  this  City,  who  walking  out  to  refresh  himself, 
laid  down  under  the  thicket  to  rest,  where,  it  is  supposed,  he 
fell  asleep.  The  Jury  brought  in  their  verdict  Chance  medley. 
(Short-sighted  persons  are  not  fit  to  go  a gunning  ; they  there- 
fore would  do  well  to  go  to  Ohio,  where,  as  they  can’t  see 
distinctly,  they  may  kill  as  many  Frenchmen  as  they  please 
instead  of  bears.)  ” 

There  was  great  complaint  in  1759  that  it  was 
unsafe  to  walk  in  Mr.  Bayard’s  woods  on  account  of 
the  fowling  there. 

Game  preserves  were  kept  by  some  of  the  gentry, 
as  has  already  appeared  in  the  case  of  Governor  Cosby. 
The  close  seasons  established  for  various  kinds  of 
game  point  to  a desire  to  maintain  good  sport.  Ad- 
ditional evidence  of  this  occurred  during  the  severe 

262 


Court  sword,  canes,  book-  and  letter-cases,  pocket-books,  silver  card- 
tray,  knife  and  fork,  and  fan  ; from  the  Museum  for  the  Art  of 
Decoration,  Cooper  Union.  See  pages  195  and  225. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

winter  of  1764-5  when  the  mercury  fell  to  350  below 
zero.  On  January  31st,  we  learn  : 

“ The  late  severe  weather  having  destroyed  great  numbers 
of  small  birds  and  seeming  to  threaten  an  extinction  of  the 
species  of  several  sorts,  at  least  for  some  years  to  come  in 
these  parts,  especially  quails,  we  hear  several  gentlemen  have 
caught  and  purchased  considerable  numbers  of  them  which  they 
keep  in  cages  properly  sheltered  from  the  cold,  and  feed,  in 
order  to  set  them  at  liberty  in  the  Spring  to  preserve  the 
breed.” 

Besides  game-preserves,  some  of  the  rich  gentry 
had  deer-parks.  In  1749,  John  Schuyler  advertised  : 

“ Whereas  some  persons  have  of  late  entered  the  park  of 
the  Subscriber,  on  New  Barbadoes  Neck,  in  the  County  of 
Bergen,  and  have  there  shot  and  killed  some  of  my  deer  in  said 
park.  These  are  therefore  to  forbid  all  persons  to  enter  into 
said  park,  or  to  carry  a musket  or  firelock  on  any  of  my  en- 
closed lands  or  meadows  without  my  leave  first  obtained  for 
so  doing  under  the  penalty  of  being  prosecuted  with  the  utmost 
rigour  of  the  law.” 

Mr.  Schuyler  offered  £$  for  evidence  of  anyone 
having  killed  his  deer.  Good  marksmanship  was  cul- 
tivated in  New  York,  even  as  it  was  on  the  frontier. 
Sometimes  a shooting-match  was  held  in  the  form  of 
a sweepstakes,  the  prize  being  some  object  of  value 
instead  of  money.  On  one  occasion  the  prize  was  a 
house  and  lot;  on  another,  a gold  watch.  In  1734, 
we  read  “To  be  shot  for,  a lot  of  land  37  ft.  6 in. 
broad  in  Sacket’s  Street.  April  7th,  8th,  9th,  10th 
(Easter)  one  ball  at  100  yards,  at  the  Sign  of  the 
Marlborough  Head  in  Bowery  Lane,  5 sh  per  shot, 
best  shot  in  the  four  days  to  have  the  lot.”  One  of 
these  advertisements  gave  an  unusually  minute  de- 

264 


Amusements 


scription  of  a fashionable  piece  of  furniture  of  the 

day  (i753)  : 

“To  be  shot  for  on  the  22d  of  January  next,  a good  ma- 
hogany chest  of  drawers,  with  eagles’  claw  feet,  a shell  on  each 
knee  and  fluted  corners,  with  good  brass  work  and  locks. 
Those  that  intend  to  try  their  fortune  for  the  same,  may  apply 
to  Mr.  George  Peters  in  Broad  Street,  where  they  may  see  the 
above.  There  will  be  twenty  chances  at  14/-  each  chance.” 

Boating  and  fishing  were  largely  indulged  in. 
Pleasure  boats  were  at  the  wharves  of  every  country 
seat  that  had  a water-front.  In  1732,  Gov.  Mont- 
gomerie’s “ fine  large  barge,  with  awning  and  damask 
curtains  ” was  sold  at  public  vendue.  In  1 736,  Captain 
Rickets’s  Pleasure  Boat  was  to  be  sold  (being  very 
well  fitted).  “ The  yacht  or  Pleasure  Boat  belonging 
to  Captain  Roddam,  with  good  sails,  rigging,”  etc.,  was 
offered  for  sale  at  Mr.  Ackland’s  Coffee  House  in  1751. 

Out-of-door  games  were  extensively  played  on  the 
Common  and  other  open  spaces  in  the  city,  as  well 
as  outside  its  limits.  Bowls  was  played  in  many  a 
garden  as  well  as  on  its  special  green  near  the  Fort. 
Golf  was  no  stranger  to  officers  and  gentry.  In  1729, 
Governor  Burnet’s  inventory  mentions  “ Nine  gouff 
clubs,  one  iron  ditto  and  seven  dozen  balls.”  This 
governor  was  an  enthusiastic  sportsman.  He  owned 
five  cases  of  foils,  an  extra  one,  three  fowling-pieces 
and  a cane  fishing-rod.  Other  games  were  fives,  ten- 
nis and  cricket.  In  1766  “James  Rivington  imported 
battledores  and  shuttlecocks,  cricket-balls,  pillets,  best 
racquets  for  tennis  and  fives,  backgammon  tables  with 
men,  boxes  and  dice.”  Cards  were  imported  in  enor- 
mous quantities. 


265 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Besides  sea-fishing,  the  rod  and  fly  afforded  exer- 
cise and  enjoyment.  Sea-bathing  also  had  its  votaries. 
In  1760,  an  advertisement  read:  “A  cold  Bathing- 
house  opposite  to  Mr.  Nicholas  Roosevelt,  at  the 
North  River,  is  kept  in  order  for  the  use  of  gentle- 
men or  ladies  by  Abraham  Fincher,  who  takes  care 
to  have  the  water  let  in  every  tide  and  has  it  conve- 
nient for  use  from  half  flood  to  half  ebb.”  In  1769, 
a cork-cutter  named  Jarvis  Roebuck,  who  lived  at  the 
foot  of  Pot  Bakers  Hill  and  also  “ sold  all  sorts  of 


Brass  hearth  furniture,  owned  by  Mrs.  Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis. 
See  page  162. 


cork  and  corks,”  informed  the  public  that  he  had 
“ cork  jackets  of  different  prices  for  swimming,  which 
has  saved  many  from  drowning.” 

Cockfighting  was  a popular  pastime.  Silver  and 
steel  spurs  were  on  sale  in  many  stores.  “ Very  good 
cocks”  were  to  be  procured  at  the  sign  of  the  Fight- 

266 


Amusements 


mg-  Cocks  near  the  Gentleman’s  Coffee  House.  The 
less  fashionable  Dog’s  Head  in  the  Porridge  Pot  also 
supplied  them.  Bull-baiting  was  one  of  the  joyous 
sports  patronized  by  the  gentry.  Bulls  were  baited 
on  Bayard’s  Hill  at  the  fresh-water  pump.  In  1774, 
“John  Cornell,  near  St.  George’s  Ferry,  Long  Island, 
gave  public  notice  that  there  would  be  a bull  baited 
on  Tower  Hill  at  three  p.  m.  every  Thursday  during 
the  season.”  (See  page  271.) 

The  Long  Island  plains  afforded  splendid  runs  for 
foxhounds,  and  in  the  Autumn,  when  the  fields  had 
been  reaped,  packs  had  the  right  to  hunt  over  them. 
The  hounds  often  met  in  Bergen  Woods  also. 

The  English  love  of  horseflesh  early  displayed  it- 
self here.  Colonel  Nicholls,  the  first  English  gover- 
nor, ordered  that  a stake  should  be  run  for  on  the 
present  site  of  Garden  City,  which  was  then  known  as 
Salisbury  Plain.  This  plain,  sixteen  miles  in  length 
and  four  in  breadth,  was  covered  with  fine  turf  and 
entirely  destitute  of  trees.  From  its  resemblance  to 
Newmarket  Heath,  the  course  was  called  Newmarket, 
and  the  first  race  was  run  there  about  1666.  From 
1670,  there  were  two  race-meetings  a year  till  177 5, 
and  these  were  attended  by  the  gentry  of  New  York 
and  New  England.  There  were  several  other  courses 
on  Long  Island,  particularly  one  around  Beaver  Pond, 
Jamaica.  The  value  of  the  plate  varied.  Two  ex- 
amples will  suffice  : 

“ On  Monday  last  ended  the  races  round  Beaver  Pond  near 
Jamaica,  L.  I.,  for  a purse  of  ^12,  which  was  won  by  a gelding 
from  Maryland  belonging  to  Mr.  John  Combes  of  Jamaica.” 
(June  3,  1755.) 


267 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“ N.  Y.  Freemason  Purse  of  ^£100  to  be  run  for  around  the 
Beaver  Pond  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  best  2 of  3 heats,  each  heat  3 
times  round  the  pond — whole  bred  English  only  excepted. ” 
(Apr.  23rd,  1763.) 

To  improve  the  native  breed,  the  very  best  foreign 
blood  was  imported,  and  before  long  there  was  great 
rivalry  between  English  and  American  horses.  In 
1764,  at  the  Newmarket  races,  the  ^50  purse  was  run 
for  by  Mr.  Smith’s  bay  horse  Hero,  Mr.  Thorne’s  grey 
horse  Starling,  and  Mr.  Leary’s  bay  horse  Old  Eng- 
land, all  bred  in  and  imported  from  England.  Star- 
ling won  first  and  second  heat,  successively,  winning 
the  purse.  The  keenness  of  the  rivalry  between  the 
native  and  foreign  stock  may  be  seen  in  the  following 
notice  that  appeared  May  16,  1768  : 

“The  Plundred  Pounds  purse  at  Upper  Marlborough,  has 
been  won  by  Dr.  Hamilton’s  English  horse  Figure,  beating  the, 
hitherto,  terrific  Salem.  As  many  incidents  occur  in  a four  mile 
heat,  and  we  have  no  particulars  of  the  sport,  it  is  but  justice 
to  the  gallant  American  that  the  public  should  suspend  its  de- 
cisive opinion  until  the  champions  have  met  at  Philadelphia, 
next  October ; when  the  vanquished  may  recover,  or  the  victor 
be  confirmed  in  the  triumphant  post  which,  to  the  astonishment 
of  thousands,  he  has  so  successfully  contended  for.  Figure 
was  got  by  a beautiful  horse  of  that  name,  the  property  of  the 
Duke  of  Hamilton ; ran  five  times  in  England  and  won  one 
plate ; he  also  started  two  years  ago  against  five  horses  at 
Annapolis  and  beat  them  in  four  fine  heats.  Salem,  a grandson 
of  Godolphin  Arabian,  and  got  by  Governor  Sharp’s  valiant 
Othello,  has  run  about  nine  times,  and  till  this  event  proved  in 
every  dispute  unconquerable.  The  gentlemen  of  Philadelphia 
have  raised  a purse  of  £100  and  two  of  ^50  each,  to  be  run 
for  over  their  course  in  the  Fall.  The  particulars  adapted  to 
the  late  increase  of  fine  horses  in  the  Northern  Colonies  will  be 
advertised  very  soon.” 


268 


Amusements 


Some  of  these  events  attracted  great  crowds.  In 
June,  1750,  we  are  told  : “ Last  Friday  a great  horse 
race  was  run  at  Hempstead  Plains  for  a considerable 
wager,  which  engaged  the  attention  of  so  many  of 
this  city  that  upwards  of  seventy  chairs  and  chaises 
were  carried  over  the  ferry  from  hence  the  day  before, 
besides  a far  greater  number  of  horses,  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  number  of  horses  in  the  plains  at  the 
race  far  exceeded  a thousand.”  The  New  York  sport- 
ing men,  however,  were  not  content  to  go  only  to  those 
places.  Courses  were  often  improvised  on  Manhattan 
Island,  and  even  within  the  city  itself.  In  1736,  it 
was  announced  : 

“On  Wed.  Oct.  13,  next,  will  be  run  for  on  the  course  at 
N.  Y.  a plate  of  £ 20  value,  by  any  horse,  mare  or  gelding, 
carrying  10  stone  (saddle  and  bridle  included)  the  best  of  three 
heats,  two  miles  each  heat.  Horses  intended  to  run  for  this 
plate  are  to  be  entered  the  day  before  the  race  with  Francis 
Child,  on  Fresh  Water  Hill,  paying  a half  pistole  each,  or  at 
the  post  on  the  day  of  running,  paying  a pistole.  And  the  next 
day  will  be  run  for  on  the  same  course,  by  all  or  any  of  the 
horses  that  started  for  the  £ 20  plate  (the  winning  horse  ex- 
cepted) ; the  entrance  money  on  the  condition  above.  Proper 
judges  will  be  named  to  determine  any  disputes  that  may  arise. 
All  persons  on  horseback  or  in  chaises  coming  into  the  field 
(the  subscribers  and  winning  horses  only  excepted)  are  to  pay 
6d.  each  to  the  owner  of  the  ground.” 

There  was  a beautiful  race-course  on  the  Lispenard 
meadows  in  Greenwich  village,  near  the  seats  of  Sir 
Peter  Warren,  Abraham  Mortier,  William  Bayard  and 
James  Tauncey.  Another  private  track  belonging  to 
the  De  Lanceys  was  on  First  and  Second  Streets 
fronting  the  Bowery.  Here  were  held  many  trials  of 
speed.  Sometimes  trials  were  held  on  the  public 

269 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


roads.  One  of  these  is  noticed  on  April  29,  1754: 
“Tuesday  morning  last  a considerable  sum  was  de- 
pending between  a number  of  gentlemen  in  this  city 
on  a horse  starting  from  one  of  the  gates  of  the  city 


Silver  candlesticks  owned  by  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster,  Esq. 
See  page  143. 


to  go  to  Kingsbridge  and  back  again,  being  fourteen 
measured  miles  (each  way)  in  two  hours  time  ; which 
he  performed  with  one  rider  in  i hr.  and  46  min.” 
This  horse  belonged  to  Oliver  De  Lancey,  who 
was  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  patrons  of  the  turf 
in  that  day.  The  De  Lanceys  and  Morrises  spent 
large  sums  on  their  studs  and  owned  many  famous 
horses.  Other  owners  and  breeders  included  General 
Monckton,  Anthony  Rutgers,  Timothy  Cornell,  Roper 
Dawson,  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  Captain  Heard,  Israel 
Waters,  and  the  Cornells  of  Long  Island.  Racing 
was  not  confined  to  those  who  could  keep  regu- 
lar training  stables.  There  were  opportunities  for 

270 


Amusements 


small  farmers  and  tradesmen  to  test  many  of  their 
horses. 

The  sporting  gentry  of  New  York  thronged  not 
only  to  their  own  and  the  Long  Island  courses,  but 
to  Powles  Hook,  Perth  Amboy,  and  Elizabethtown. 
In  1774,  the  Continental  Congress  suppressed  this 
kind  of  sport  when  Article  8 agreed  to  “ discounte- 
nance and  discourage  every  species  of  extravagance  and 
dissipation,  especially  all  horse-racing  and  all  kinds  of 
gaming,  cock-fighting,  exhibitions  of  shows,  plays  and 
other  expensive  diversions  and  entertainments.” 


“ Bull-baiting,  John  Cornell,  near  St.  George’s  Ferry, 
Long  Island.”  (1774.) 


II 


THEATRES 

In  New  York  in  the  time  of  the  Georges,  many 
inhabitants  were  strongly  opposed  to  theatrical  en- 
tertainments. The  earliest  newspaper  notice  of  a 
theatre  occurs  in  1733,  when  George  Talbot  sold  fur- 
niture “ next  door  to  the  Playhouse.”  The  first  com- 
pany of  which  we  have  any  knowledge  arrived  at  the 
beginning  of  1750.  On  Feb.  26th  we  read  : 

“ Last  week  arrived  here  a company  of  comedians  from 
Philadelphia,  who  we  hear  have  taken  a convenient  room  for 
their  purpose  in  one  of  the  buildings  lately  belonging  to  the 
Hon.  Rip  Van  Dam,  Esq.,  deceased,  in  Nassau  Street,  where 
they  intend  to  perform  as  long  as  the  season  lasts,  provided 
that  they  meet  with  suitable  encouragement.” 

These  comedians  gave  entertainments  till  the  end 
of  July  and  began  again  on  Sept.  13.  The  first  play 
presented  was  Colley  Cibber’s  version  of  Shake- 
speare’s Richard II /.  The  managers  thought  it  neces- 
sary to  inform  the  public  what  the  play  was  about. 
“In  this  play,”  they  said,  “is  contained  the  death  of 
King  Henry  VI.  ; the  artful  acquisition  of  the  Crown 
by  Richard  III.,  the  landing  at  Milford  Haven  of 
H enry  VII.  and  the  Battle  at  Bosworth  Field.” 

At  that  date,  no  distinction  was  made  between  the 
lyric  and  dramatic  stage.  Members  of  a stock  com- 
pany were  necessarily  versatile.  This  company  per- 

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Amusements 


formed  tragedies,  comedies,  farces  and  ballad-operas. 
Between  the  acts  of  the  various  plays,  songs  and 
dances  were  introduced,  with  costume  in  character. 

Then  people  read  plays  as  literature.  The  libretto 
of  the  last  stage  success  was  as  eagerly  bought  as  the 
latest  novel.  We  shall  see  on  page  387  how  the 
fashionable  young  lady  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
contemporary  stage.  If  the  company  wanted  to  pro- 


Silver  and  other  articles,  originally  owned  by  the  Duane,  Jones  and 
Bowers  families  ; now  by  Mrs.  Wilmot  Townsend  Cox  and 
Mrs.  French  Ensor  Chadwick.  See  pages  152  and  335. 


duce  a play  of  which  they  had  no  libretto,  they  could 
be  reasonably  sure  that  they  could  borrow  it  from 
somebody  here.  They  advertised  in  May  1 75 1 : “If 
any  Gentleman  or  Lady  has  the  Farce  call’d  The 
Intriguing  Chambermaid , and  will  lend  it  awhile  to 
the  Players,  it  will  be  thankfully  acknowledged.” 

Some  of  these  plays  were  of  a nature  to  scandalize 
minds  not  necessarily  puritanical.  To-day,  some  of 
them  would  be  quite  unplayable.  Even  persons  who 
were  not  at  all  squeamish  generally  preferred  the 
19  273 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

purer  atmosphere  of  tragedies.  The  following  para- 
graph was  printed  in  September,  i 750  : 

“Thursday  evening  last,  the  tragedy  of  Cato  was  played  at 
the  theatre  in  this  city,  before  a very  numerous  audience,  the 
greater  part  of  whom  were  of  opinion  that  it  was  pretty  well 
performed.  As  it  was  the  fullest  assembly  that  has  appeared 
in  that  house,  it  may  serve  to  prove  that  the  taste  of  this  place 
is  not  so  much  vitiated,  or  lost  to  a sense  of  liberty,  but  that 
they  can  prefer  a representation  of  virtue  to  those  of  a loose 
character.” 

In  England  at  this  date,  players  were  generally 
regarded  as  vagabonds.  This  company  now  visiting 
New  York  had  practically  been  treated  as  such  in 
Philadelphia.  Two  actors  who  were  also  the  mana- 
gers were  Messrs.  Murray  and  Kean.  The  names  of 
the  other  members  were  : Tremain,  Woodham,  Jago, 
Scott,  Leigh,  Smith,  Moore,  Marks,  Master  Murray, 
Miss  Osborn,  Miss  Nancy  George,  Mrs.  Taylor,  Mrs. 
Osborn,  Mrs.  Davis  and  Mrs.  Leigh.  The  following 
notes  show  that  the  social  standing  of  these  players 
was  not  very  high  : 

[April  22nd,  1751],  “Mr.  Kean,  by  the  advice  of  several 
gentlemen  in  town  who  are  his  friends,  having  resolved  to  quit 
the  stage  and  follow  his  employment  of  writing  (wherein  he  hopes 
for  encouragement)  will  take  a benefit,  playing  Richard  III." 

[June  10th],  Mr.  Jago  “humbly  hopes  that  all  ladies  and 
gentlemen  will  be  so  kind  as  to  favour  him  with  their  company 
as  he  never  had  a benefit  before,  and  is  just  out  of  prison.” 

[June  13],  “Mrs.  Davis  hopes  as  the  play  is  granted  her 
to  enable  her  to  buy  off  her  time,  that  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
who  are  charitably  inclined  will  favour  her  benefit,  and  their 
humble  petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray.” 

[June  17th],  “ ’Tis  the  first  time  this  poor  widow  (Osborn) 
has  had  a benefit.” 

[Aug.  26th],  “John  Tremain  having  declined  the  stage, 

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Amusements 


proposes  to  follow  his  business  of  cabinet-maker.”  (He  re- 
turned to  the  boards  a few  months  later.) 

The  venture  of  these  players  was  not  a success 
pecuniarily.  The  players  had  to  resort  to  benefits  in 
consequence.  Poor  Mr.  Jago’s  offence  was  probably 
nothing  more  serious  than  debt.  It  was  perhaps  a 
similar  danger  of  jail  that 
drove  Mr.  Kean  and  Mr. 

Tremain  back  to  their  ordinary 
vocations.  Mrs.  Davis  evi- 
dently belonged  to  that  class 
of  Redemptionists  who  were 
practically  slaves  for  a certain 
number  of  years.  Perhaps  her 
master  had  hired  out  her  tal-  „ 

. Silver  tea-pot  originally  owned 

ents  to  the  company,  just  as  by  Dr  Samuel  Johnson> 
it  was  customary  to  do  with  now  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
servants  and  craftsmen.  Mr.  William  E.  Ver  Planck. 
Kean’s  benefit  was  given  on  Seepage  150. 

Jan.  14,  1731.  The  play  was 

The  Beggars  Opera , “ with  entertainments  between 
the  acts,  viz.,  a Harlequin  dance,  a Pierot  dance  and 
the  Drunken  Peasant,  all  by  a gentleman  lately  from 
London.  Miss  in  her  Teens  and  an  Oratorio  to  be 
sung  by  Mr.  Kean.” 

At  first,  it  was  customary  not  to  sell  tickets  at  the 
door.  Actors  went  round  to  houses  and  solicited 
attendance.  Some  disagreeable  criticisms  were  made 
at  the  time  of  the  above  benefit.  The  manager  and 
Mr.  Kean  both  offered  explanations  as  follows  : 

[Jan.  2 1 st,  1751.]  “Whereas  several  reports  have  been 
unkindly  spread  that  Mr.  Kean,  for  his  benefit  night  on  Mon- 

275 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


day  last,  had  caused  a greater  number  of  tickets  to  be  printed 
than  the  house  would  hold,  this  is  to  certify  that  (according  to 
the  best  of  my  knowledge)  there  were  but  161  pit  tickets,  io 
boxes,  and  121  gallery  tickets  printed  in  all;  and  it  is  well 
known  that  as  large  a number  have  been  in  the  house  at  one 
time.  James  Parker. 

“ N.  B.  Tho’  it  was  then  determined  not  to  receive  any 
money  at  the  door,  it  was  afterwards  found  to  be  a measure 
impracticable  to  be  followed  without  great  offence;  and  such 
whose  business  could  not  afford  to  come  in  time  have  since  had 
their  money  return’d. 

“Whereas  it  has  been  reported  that  Mrs.  Taylor,  in  playing 
her  part  in  my  benefit,  endeavoured  to  perform  it  in  a worse 
manner  than  she  was  capable,  and  that  it  was  done  on  account 
of  a falling  out  between  us  : This  is  therefore  to  certify  that 
there  was  no  such  difference  between  her  and  me  ; and  that  I 
believe  her  being  out  so  much  in  the  part  was  owing  to  her  not 
getting  the  part  in  time.”  Thomas  Kean. 

We  thus  see  that  the  large  room  in  Mr.  Van 
Dam’s  house  could  accommodate  about  two  hundred 
people.  In  November,  1751,  it  was  announced  “The 
house  being  new  floored  is  made  warm  and  comfort- 
able, besides  which  gentlemen  and  ladies  may  cause 
their  stoves  to  be  brought.” 

These  stoves  were  foot-warmers, — small  square 
boxes  with  perforated  lids  and  metal  receptacles  inside 
for  hot  embers.  They  were  commonly  in  use  in  the 
pews  of  churches.  The  hour  for  beginning  the  per- 
formance was  6.30  p.  m.  and  the  prices  of  the  seats 
were  : a box,  five  shillings,  the  pit,  four  shillings,  and 
gallery  seats  two  shillings.  The  original  prices  were 
for  the  pit  five  shillings,  the  gallery  three  shillings, 
the  boxes  being  simply  portions  of  the  pit  partitioned 
off.  The  performances  were  held  twice  a week,  but 

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Amusements 


were  frequently  postponed  on  account  of  hot  or  in- 
clement weather.  In  January,  1752,  we  read: 

“ Mr.  Upton  (to  his  great  Disappointment)  not  meeting 
with  encouragement  enough  to  support  the  Company  for  the 
Season  intends  to  shorten  it  by  performing  5 or  6 plays  only 
for  Benefits  & begins  with  his  own  on  Monday  the  20th  Inst. 
His  play  is  a celebrated  comedy  called  Tunbridge  Wa/bs,  or  tiie 
Yeoman  of  Kent ; his  Entertainment,  the  Lying  Valet.  And  as 
hitherto,  encouragement  has  been  little,  hopes  the  Gentlemen 
and  Ladies  will  favour  him  that  Night.” 

Mr.  Upton  then  sailed  for  Europe.  Before  he 
went  away,  he  played  The  Fair  Penitent  (March  4,) 
and  the  Honest  Yorkshir email , the  part  of  Lavinia 
being  attempted  by  Mrs.  Tremain,  and  a farewell  epi- 
logue by  Mr.  Upton.  Experiences  with  this  company 
of  players  had  evidently  not  prepossessed  the  City 
Fathers  in  favour  of  the  profession,  for  when  a Lon- 
don company  arrived  fifteen  months  later,  it  experi- 
enced great  opposition  and  the  Assembly  refused  to 
licence  it.  The  tribulations  which  the  company  suf- 
fered are  fully  set  forth  in  a newspaper  article  : 

On  July  2nd,  1753,  “the  London  company  of  comedians, 
lately  arrived  from  Virginia,  humbly  submit  their  case  to  the 
consideration  of  the  public,  whose  servants  they  are.”  They 
sadly  anticipate  failure  for  their  enterprise  and  censure  for  the 
undertaking.  They  had  expected  a different  reception,  “ little 
imagining,  that  in  a city  to  all  appearance  so  polite  as  this,  the 
Muses  would  be  banished,  . . . and  the  elegant  entertainment 
of  the  Stage  utterly  protested  against.”  The  statement  goes  on 
to  inform  the  public  that  it  was  originally  proposed  to  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Hallam,  now  of  London,  to  collect  a company  of  comedians 
and  send  them  to  New  York  and  other  American  colonies.  He 
consented  and  collected  people,  scenes  and  costumes  at  great 
expense, — and  in  Oct.,  1750,  sent  Mr.  Robert  Upton  to  New 
York  to  obtain  the  necessary  permission  to  perform,  to  build  a 

277 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


theatre,  and  to  make  all  preparations.  For  this,  Mr.  Hallam 
advanced  a good  sum. 

Mr.  Upton,  however,  on  his  arrival  probably  squandered 
the  money  with  the  town  blades,  “for  we  never  heard  from  him 
after.  Being  thus  deceived  by  him,  the  Company  was  at  a 
stand  till  April,  1752,  when  by  the  persuasion  of  several  gentle- 


Spinet  made  by  Johannes  Hitchcock  (London,  1750).  From  Mr.  Morris 
Steinert’s  collection  of  old  instruments.  (See  page  293.) 


men  in  London,  and  Virginia  captains,  we  set  sail  on  board  of 
Mr.  William  Lee  and  arrived  after  a very  expensive  and  tire- 
some voyage  at  York  River  on  the  28th  of  June  following.’ 
There  they  obtained  the  Governor’s  permission,  and  performed 
with  the  greatest  applause,  staying  eleven  months.  I hen  they 
were  again  persuaded  to  come  here  by  several  gentlemen  whose 
names  they  will  refrain  from  mentioning.  These  gentlemen 


Amusements 


gave  a very  rosy  account  of  the  prospects  here.  “ They  told 
us  that  we  should  not  fail  of  a genteel  and  favourable  recep- 
tion ; that  the  inhabitants  were  generous  and  polite,  naturally 
fond  of  diversions  rational,  especially  those  of  the  theatre;  nay, 
they  even  told  us  that  there  was  a very  fine  play-house  build- 
ing, and  that  we  were  really  expected. 

So  they  came,  and  now  are  grieved  that  they  are  not 
wanted.  Being  people  of  no  estates,  they  have  no  fund  to  bear 
such  repulses;  a journey  by  sea  and  land  of  500  miles  costs 
money  ! “ Therefore  if  the  worthy  magistrates  would  consider 

this  in  our  favour  that  it  must  rather  turn  out  a public  ad- 
vantage and  pleasure  than  a private  injury,  they  would,  we 
make  no  doubt,  grant  permission  and  give  us  an  opportunity 
to  convince  them  that  we  are  not  cast  in  the  same  mould  with 
our  theatrical  predecessors,  or  that  in  private  life  or  public 
occupation,  we  have  the  least  affinity  to  them.” 

There  was  evidently  a sufficient  number  of  friends 
of  the  drama  to  overcome  the  opposition,  for  eleven 
weeks  later  it  was  announced  : 

The  company  of  comedians  who  arrived  here  the  past 
summer,  having  obtained  permission  from  the  proper  authority 
to  act,  have  built  a very  fine,  large  and  commodious  new  theatre 
in  the  place  where  the  old  one  stood  ; and  having  got  it  into 
good  order,  design  to  begin  this  evening.  As  they  propose  to 
tarry  here  but  a short  time,  we  hear  they  design  to  perform 
three  times  a week.” 

The  house  occupied  the  old  site,  and  the  company 
began  with  the  comedy,  The  Conscious  Lovers  on 
Sept,  r 7.  The  play  began  at  6 p.  m.  and  the  prices 
were  Box  8/-,  Pit  6/-,  Gallery  3/-.  We  soon  find  evi- 
dence of  the  fashionable  habit  of  arriving  late  : 

“ Ladies  and  gentlemen  who  intend  to  favour  with  their 
company  are  desired  to  come  by  six  o’clock,  being  determined 
to  keep  to  our  hour  as  it  would  be  a great  inconvenience  for 
them  to  be  kept  out  late,  and  a means  to  prevent  disappointment.” 

279 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Some  of  the  advertisements  requested  ladies  and 
gentlemen  to  send  their  servants  early  to  keep  their 
places  for  them,  which  shows  that  numbered  seats 
were  not  sold.  The  members  of  this  company,  the 
Douglasses,  Hallams,  etc.  were  prominent  in  the  the- 
atrical life  in  the  city  for  many  years.  There  were 
twelve  adults  and  three  children,  Lewis  Hallam,  a 
low  comedian,  his  daughter  aged  fifteen  and  two  sons 
aged  twelve  and  ten  ; Messrs.  Rigby,  Malone,  Clark- 
son, Adcock,  Bell,  Miller,  Hulett,  Singleton,  Mrs. 
Becceley,  Mrs.  Love,  Mrs.  Adcock,  Mrs.  Clarkson, 
and  Mrs.  Lewis  Hallam,  who  was  a relative  of  Rich 
of  Covent  Garden.  Upon  the  death  of  her  husband, 
she  married  David  Douglass,  who  then  managed  this 
company. 

Hostility  to  the  stage  among  a certain  class 
showed  itself  on  several  occasions,  but  it  was  not 
until  the  troublous  days  of  the  Stamp  Act  that  the 
mob  resorted  to  violence.  An  incident  that  doubt- 
less hugely  delighted  the  gallery  was  reported  on 
May  3,  1762,  as  follows  : 

“ A Pistole  reward  will  be  given  to  whoever  can  discover 
the  person  who  was  so  very  rude  to  throw  eggs  from  the  gal- 
lery upon  the  stage  last  Monday  by  which  the  clothes  of  some 
ladies  and  gentlemen  in  the  boxes  were  spoiled  and  the  per- 
formance in  some  measure  interrupted. 

“David  Douglass.” 

The  performance  was  interrupted  in  a far  more 
serious  manner  early  in  May,  1766.  The  theatre  that 
suffered  stood  in  Chapel  Street,  and  on  the  night  of 
the  riot  the  plays  were  The  Twin  Rivals  and  The 
King  and  the  Miller  of  Mansfield.  The  manager  had 

280 


Amusements 


advertised:  “As  the  packet  is  arrived  and  has  been 
the  messenger  of  good  news  relative  to  the  Repeal,  it 
is  hoped  the  public  has  no  objection  to  the  above 
performance.”  On  May  8th,  1766,  the  paper  gave  the 
following:  account  of  the  affair  : 

“ The  play  advertised  to  be  acted  on  last  Monday  evening- 
having given  offence  to  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city 
who  thought  it  highly  improper  that  such  entertainments  should 
be  exhibited  at  this  time  of  public  distress,  when  great  numbers 
of  poor  people  can  scarce  find  means  of  subsistance,  whereby 
many  persons  might  be  tempted  to  neglect  their  business  and 
squander  that  money  which  is  necessary  to  the  payment  of  this 
debt  and  support  of  their  families,  a rumor  was  spread  about 
town  on  Monday  that  if  the  play  went  on,  the  audience  would 
meet  with  some  disturbance  from  the  multitude.  This  pre- 
vented the  greatest  part  of  those  who  intended  to  have  been 
there  from  going  : however  many  people  came,  and  the  play 
was  begun,  but  soon  interrupted  by  the  multitude  who  burst 
open  the  doors  and  entered  with  noise  and  tumult.  The  audi- 
ence escaped  in  the  best  manner  they  could  : many  lost  their 
hats  and  other  parts  of  dress.  A boy  had  his  skull  fractured 
— several  others  were  dangerously  hurt.  The  multitude  im- 
mediately demolished  the  house,  and  carried  away  the  pieces 
to  the  Common,  where  they  consumed  them  in  a bonfire.” 

At  the  opening  of  this  theatre  in  January,  1759, 
David  Douglass,  the  manager,  had  written  : 

“ Be  pleased  to  give  the  inclosed  occasional  Prologue  and 
Epilogue  spoken  at  the  opening  of  the  new  theatre  in  this  city, 
a place  in  your  paper.  As  we  cannot  imagine  the  difficulty  we 
met  with  in  obtaining  liberty  to  act  here  proceeded  from  any 
ill  opinion  those  in  authority  had  of  a well-regulated  stage,  but 
rather  from  a tender  regard  to  the  mistaken  notions  of  others, 
we  humbly  beg  leave  to  embrace  this  opportunity  of  recom- 
mending this  performance  to  the  candid  perusal  of  such  preju- 
diced, though  we  doubt  not,  well  meaning  minds.” 

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Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

The  Prologue  and  Epilogue  were  apologies  and 
defences  of  theatrical  performances.  The  riot  of 
1766  had  no  permanent  effect  in  hindering  theatrical 
performances,  for  in  the  following  year  a playhouse  was 
opened  in  John  Street.  The  company  that  opened  it 
included  among  its  members  several  persons  who, 
being  very  good  singers  as  well  as  actors  and  actresses, 
could  sustain  their  parts  in  the  light  operas  and  musical 


Chairs  of  the  Heppelwhite  period.  Originals  in  the  Museum  for  the  Art 
of  Decoration,  Cooper  Union,  New  York.  See  page  285. 


farces  of  the  day  as  well  as  in  the  plays.  Often  dur- 
ing the  performance  of  a tragedy  or  comedy,  they 
were  called  upon  to  sing  some  popular  song  between 
the  acts  ; this,  indeed,  was  so  important  a feature  of 
the  evening’s  entertainment,  that  their  names  and  the 
titles  of  the  songs  were  specially  advertised.  For 
example,  Miss  Maria  Storer  delighted  the  audience 

282 


Amusements 


on  May  2,  1768,  with  the  celebrated  song  “ Sweet 
Echo,”  when  Richard  III.  was  played  for  the  benefit 
of  the  three  Misses  Storer.  She  sang  it  between  the 
third  and  fourth  acts.  Miss  Hallam  sang  “’Twas 
when  the  Seas  were  Roaring”  on  May  23,  at  Mrs. 
Douglass’s  benefit,  when  Jane  Shore  was  played  ; and 
on  May  25,  when  Richard  III.  was  performed 
again,  Miss  Wainwright  sang,  “Thro’  the  Wood, 
Laddie,”  and  Miss  Hallam,  “Vain  is  Beauty’s  gaudy 
Flower.” 

The  members  of  this  company  who  thus  acquired 
a double  reputation  as  singers  and  actors  were  : Mr. 
Stephen  Woods,  Miss  Wainwright,  Mrs.  Harman  (a 
granddaughter  of  Colley  Cibber),  Miss  Hallam,  Mr. 
Wall  and  the  Storer  sisters.  Mr.  Woods  was  the 
principal  singer  in  the  company.  He  was  born  in 
Bath  in  1729,  and  made  his  first  appearance  in  New 
York  at  the  opening  of  the  John  Street  Theatre  in 
1767,  playing  Gibbet  in  The  Beaux  Stratagem  and 
Mercury  in  Lethe.  He  became  a great  favourite,  and 
sang  nearly  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  New  York  in  1799.  Miss  Wainwright  appeared 
in  New  York  with  Mr.  Woods  as  Cherry  in  The  Beattx 
Stratagem  and  as  Mrs.  Riot  in  Lethe.  She  was  also 
a native  of  England  and  was  much  admired  for  her 
sprightly  performance  of  chambermaids  and  rustic 
characters.  Gay  comedy  was  her  specialty.  She  was 
the  principal  female  vocalist  in  the  Douglass  Com- 
pany. Her  name  disappears  in  1769. 

It  is  very  interesting  to  note  that  to  the  public 
some  of  the  plays  had  special  attractions  that  would 
not  be  considered  so  important  to-day.  For  example, 

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Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

in  a performance  of  Romeo  and  Juliet , the  funeral  was 
specially  mentioned  in  the  advertisement.  Very  often 
the  music  and  dancing  between  the  acts  was  a greater 
attraction  than  the  play  itself. 

There  was  considerable  histrionic  ability  among 
the  gentlemen  of  the  city,  who  on  occasion  were  will- 
ing to  help  the  actors  out  of  difficulties.  In  April, 


Silver  tea-set  owned  by  Frederic  J,  de  Peyster,  Esq.  See  page  150. 


1770,  Othello  was  acted  by  an  amateur,  assisted  by 
other  gentlemen  as  the  Doge  and  Senate.  Box  prices 
were  charged  for  the  pit  on  this  occasion. 

The  theatre  had  the  influential  support  of  the 
Freemasons.  There  was  a special  performance  in 
1 769,  when  the  Tender  Husband  was  first  given  here. 
The  brethren  met  at  Mr.  Burns’s  and  walked  to  the 
theatre  in  procession. 

On  another  occasion,  all  the  beauty  and  fashion 
crowded  to  the  theatre  to  see  Indian  chiefs  give  a 
war-dance. 

Before  the  Revolution,  several  plays  were  mounted 
with  a good  deal  of  splendour  and  magnificence.  Two 
instances  occur  in  May,  1773,  which  are  described  by 
the  critic  as  follows  : 


284 


Amusements 


“ Last  Wednesday  the  play  of  The  Tempest  or  the  Inchanted 
Islatid,  written  by  Shakespeare  and  altered  by  Dryden,  was  per- 
formed at  the  theatre  in  this  city  to  a numerous  and  brilliant 
audience  with  universal  applause;  the  machinery  is  elegant  and 
the  whole  is  allowed  to  be  one  of  the  most  pleasing  pieces  that 
has  made  its  appearance  on  the  American  stage.” 

“ The  scenery,  decorations,  dresses  and  machinery  of  the 
opera  of  Cymon  to  be  performed  this  evening  are  allowed  by  the 
most  critical  judges  of  theatrical  splendour  to  be  more  magnifi- 
cent than  could  be  expected  at  so  early  a period  on  the  Amer- 
ican stage.  During  its  run  at  Philadelphia,  several  gentlemen 
from  London  attended  the  representation  and  made  compari- 
sons much  to  the  honour  of  our  infant  western  theatre.  We 
are  informed  that  as  it  is  so  very  late  in  the  season  it  can  only 
be  performed  one  night.” 

[The  silver  bowl  on  page  260  is  a very  early  model 
of  native  manufacture.  It  belonged  to  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  Columbia  College.  The  chairs  on  page  282 
are  patterns  that  were  just  coming  into  fashion  at  the 
close  of  our  period.] 


285 


Ill 


MUSIC 

Among  the  accomplishments  and  entertainments, 
music  held  no  small  place  ; yet  the  music  of  colonial 
days  differed  very  greatly  from  the  art  in  favour  at  the 
present  time.  The  world’s  popular  composers  then  were 
Handel,  Bach,  Corelli,  the  two  Scarlattis,  Hasse,  Jo- 
melli,  Haydn,  Rameau,  Purcell,  Lulli,  Gluck,  Bocche- 
rini, Arne,  Piccini,  Geminiani  and  Tartini.  We  shall 
presently  find  that  the  music  of  these  men  was  well- 
known  in  New  York. 

Vocal  music  was  extremely  florid.  The  air,  inva- 
riably suave  and  sentimental,  was  overladen  with 
ornamental  turns,  trills  and  flute-like  runs  and  scale 
passages,  demanding  much  execution,  as  well  as  grace 
and  style,  from  the  performers  of  both  sexes. 

The  symphony  had  not  yet  been  developed,  for 
Haydn  was  now  writing  his  chamber-music  and  had 
not  produced  those  works  that  set  the  stamp  upon  this 
form.  The  sonata  was  barely  throwing  off  the  shackles 
of  the  suite,  and  in  it  the  dance-forms  still  lingered,  as 
they  did  in  the  quartets  and  quintets.  Therefore,  the 
most  familiar  forms  of  instrumental  music  were  min- 
uets, gigues,  gavottes,  rigadoons,  sarabandes,  alle- 
mandes,  courantes,  passepieds,  bourrees,  and  cha- 
connes. 

The  violin  was  extremely  popular,  largely  because 

286 


Amusements 


of  the  good  music  that  had  lately  been  written  for  it. 
The  great  Corelli,  called  by  the  Italians  “ il  divino,” 


Harpsichord  made  by  Jacobus  Kirkman  (London,  1769).  From 
Mr.  Morris  Steinert’s  collection  of  old  instruments.  (See  page  293.) 

had,  of  course,  published  his  sonatas,  which  are 
models  of  the  classical  style.  Tartini,  who  founded  a 

287 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

very  important  violin-school  at  Padua  in  i 728,  was  con- 
stantly composing  concertos  and  sonatas,  among  them 
the  famous  Sonate  du  Diable,  or  Tartinis  Dream;  and 
Geminiani,  a pupil  of  Corellis,  who  had  settled  in 
London  in  1714,  enjoyed  the  greatest  vogue.  He 
wrote  many  sonatas  (a  few  of  which  he  arranged  for 
the  ’cello),  concertos  and  other  solo  pieces.  Geminiani 
was  the  first  in  any  country  to  bring  out  a book  on 
the  Art  of  Playing  the  Violin.  This  was  published  in 
London  in  1740, — six  years  before  Leopold  Mozart 
issued  his  Violin  School.  He  also  wrote  the  Art  of 
Playing  the  Guitar , the  Art  of  Accompaniment , a 
Treatise  on  Memory  and  a Treatise  on  Good  Taste. 
All  of  these  books  could  be  bought  in  New  York  at 
Rivington’s.  That  Geminiani  and  Corelli  were  known 
to  the  music-lovers  of  New  York  is  evident  from  the 
advertisement  of  Mrs.  Tanner,  a milliner  in  Smith 
Street,  who  offered  for  sale,  in  1761,  “A  choice  col- 
lection of  Music  by  the  most  eminent  composers, 
such  as  Handel,  Arne,  Corelli,  Geminiani,  etc.,  etc.” 

This  alone  is  sufficient  to  prove  that  in  music  New 
York  kept  up  with  Europe.  It  may  be  instructive  to 
give  here  a list  of  the  music  that  was  actually  on  sale 
at  Rivington’s  in  1 773.  Taking  the  harpsichord,  spinet, 
Piano  Forte  and  Organ  first,  we  find  : Bach’s  Sonatas  ; 
Handel’s  Voluntaries;  Lord  Kelly’s  Overtures; 
Garth’s  Sonatas  ; Parry’s  airs  (and  also  for  the  harp)  ; 
Alcock’s  Lessons  ; Pasquali’s  Thorough  Bass ; Pas- 
quali’s  Art  of  Fingering ; Boccherini’s  Six  Sonatas; 
Giordani’s  Six  Sonatas ; Graaf’s  Symphonies ; and 
Fisher’s  and  Esher’s  Symphonies. 

For  the  Violin,  Mr.  Rivington  is  selling  : Bocche- 

288 


Amusements 


rini’s  Duets;  Van  Maldere’s  Overture;  Tartini’s  Two 
Solos ; Bach’s  Six  Symphonies ; Giordani’s  Quar- 
tettos  ; Schwmdl’s  Choice  Airs  ; Fischer’s  Duet ; Cam- 
pioni’s  Trios  ; Geminiani’s  Art  of  P laying  on  the  Vio- 
lin; Just’s  Divertiments ; Giardani’s  Solos;  Marti- 
ni’s Sonatas;  Geminiani  On  Good  Taste;  Geminiani 
On  True  Taste;  Just’s  Sonatinas;  Essex  Orpheus; 
24  Italian  and  Spanish  Minuets  ; and  24  Italian  and 
Spanish  Country  Dances. 

For  the  German  Flute,  he  had  : Blanch’s  solos  ; 
Magherini’s  trios  ; Tacet’s  duets  and  preludes  ; Miller’s 
solos  ; Giordani’s  six  chamber  concertos  ; Bach’s  six 
quartettos  ; Bern’s  six  quartettos  ; Misliweckek’s  Trios  ; 
Patoni’s  sonatas  ; Holyoke’s  Duettos  ; Airs  and  Songs 
in  the  Golden  Pippin;  Florio’s  Duetts;  Stamitz’s 
Duetts  ; Campioni’s  Duetts  ; Capelliti’s  Twelve  So- 
natas ; Bates’s  Duetts  ; Kernlt’s  Duetts  ; Col.  Reid’s 
Solos ; and  Dutch  minuets.  For  the  guitar,  there 
are  : Citralini’s  Six  Divertiments  ; Thackeray’s  Forty- 
four  Airs  and  Divertiments ; and  Airs  from  Love  in 
a Village , The  Padlock , the  Ladies  Frolic k,  Cymon , 
and  the  new  Golden  Pippin ; Arnold’s  Twenty-four 
Lessons,  Twelve  new  Songs  and  a Cantata  ; Melgrove’s 
Forty  Lessons  for  One  or  Two  Guitars  ; Hymns  and 
Songs  sung  at  the  Magdalen  ; Alcock’s  Divertiments 
and  Songs  ; Bach’s  Sonatas  ; Noferi’s  Six  Lessons  ; 
Haxby’s  Easy  Airs  ; Twelve  Lessons  by  a Lady  ; and 
Dibdin’s  Institution  of  the  Garter. 

Rivington  was  also  supplying  at  this  date  tutors, 
or  instructors,  for  playing  on  the  harpsichord  and  piano- 
forte, violin,  German  flute,  fife,  bassoon,  hautboy, 
French  horn,  clarinet,  and  for  learning  to  sing.  He 
20  289 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

also  imported  what  was,  no  doubt,  exceedingly  popu- 
lar : “ English  operas  with  all  the  songs,  arranged  for 
the  harpsichord,  Pianoforte,  etc.,  etc.”  These  includ- 
ed : Lionel  and  Clarissa , Cymon , Golden  Pippin , Maid 
of  the  Mill , Love  in  a Village , Institution  of  the  Garter , 
Ladies  Frolic k , 77/^  Portrait , Z#  buona  figlioula,  Hob 
in  the  Well , Dibdins  King  Arthur  and  Midas . 

It  is  very  doubtful  if  women  played  the  violin  in 
colonial  days  ; but  there  must  have  been  a great  num- 
ber of  violin  students  in  New  York,  for  teachers  of 
the  violin  seem  to  have  succeeded.  Some  one  was 
greatly  distressed  in  1757  by  the  loss  of  some  violin 
music.  On  Feb.  21st  of  that  year,  we  read  : “Lost ; 
a musick-book,  the  principal  fiddle  of  twelve  con- 
certos, entitled  Dominico  Scarlatti’s  Lessons,  etc., 
made  into  Concertos  by  Charles  Avison.” 

At  this  period,  Quantz  was  composing  for  Fred- 
erick the  Great,  who  had  brought  the  flute  into  spe- 
cial prominence.  We  constantly  find  the  “ German 
flute  ” on  the  concert  programmes  and  several  mu- 
sicians were  able  to  teach  it  in  New  York.  The 
spinet,  clavichord,  and  harpsichord  were  found  in 
every  home  of  affluence.  Bach’s  Well-Tempered 
Clavichord  and  Handel’s  English  and  French  Suites 
were  probably  thrummed  or  played  by  every  young 
lady.  The  Harmonious  Blacksmith  was  doubtless  a 
favourite  show-piece. 

Music  was  a social  accomplishment,  and  formed 
part  of  the  equipment  of  the  fashionable,  wealthy  and 
well-educated  man.  Although  music-lovers  of  the 
present  day  may  despise  the  old-fashioned  music  of 
the  days  before  Mozart,  there  was  very  real  love  of 

290 


Amusements 


what  music  existed,  and  glees  and  madrigals  and 
catches  were  to  be  heard  on  every  public  occasion. 
Moreover,  every  man  of  edu- 
cation was  expected  to 
be  a competent  musical 
critic. 

Glee-clubs  and 
musical  associations 
like  those  that  ex- 
isted in  such  num- 
bers in  England  were 
also  found  in  New 
York.  The  officers  of 
the  garrison  were  in 


many  cases  able  musi- 
cians, and  the  opulent 
class  here  joined 
them  in  frequent 
musical  evenings  both 
private  and  public. 

When  the  professional 
musicians  were  scanty 
in  numbers,  private 
gentlemen  and  officers 
always  came  forward 
to  reinforce  the  orches- 
tra. As  a rule,  how- 
ever, we  do  not  find 

that  the  ladies  took  any  part  in  public  concerts. 
When  a musical  entertainment  was  given  by  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Fort  and  the  gentry  of  the  city,  the  even- 
ing usually  ended  in  a “ ball  for  the  ladies.”  Profes- 

291 


Secretary  originally  owned  by  Ryck 
Suydam  of  Flatbush,  L.  I. ; now  by 
Mrs.  Henry  Draper.  See  page  ill. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

sional  concerts  were  advertised  with  the  same  attrac- 
tion. The  arrival  of  an  officer,  or  merchant,  who  was 
an  amateur  musician  of  ability,  was  eagerly  welcomed. 
Local  music-lovers  lost  no  time  in  introducing  him 
to  the  town.  An  instance  of  this  occurs  on  Oct.  1 7, 
1765  : 

“This  evening  will  be  a concert  of  vocal  and  instrumental 
music  at  Mr.  Burns’s  Assembly  Room — the  first  violin  to  be 
performed  by  a gentleman  lately  arrived.  A solo  on  the  violin 
by  the  same  hand.  The  other  instrumental  parts  by  gentlemen 
of  the  town.” 

The  devotees  of  music  were  so  numerous  here 
that  a Harmonic  Society  existed  and  gave  concerts, 
and  sometimes  assisted  at  special  dramatic  and  mu- 
sical entertainments.  This  organization  had  the  most 
distinguished  support  that  the  society  of  the  day  could 
afford,  as  it  was  recruited  from  the  best  circles. 

At  a concert  in  1773,  a Mr.  Zedwitz  conducted 
and  played  first  violin  ; and  the  other  instrumental 
parts  were  performed  by  the  “gentlemen  of  the  Har- 
monic Society.” 

On  April  24,  1774,  there  was  a subscription  con- 
cert for  Signora  Mazzanti,  Mr.  Zedwitz,  and  Mr. 
Hulett.  We  learn  from  the  advertisements  that 
“the  gentlemen  of  the  Harmonic  Society  have  prom- 
ised their  assistance,  and  that  Signora  Mazzanti 
will  sing  several  English  and  Italian  songs.”  The 
tickets  were  $1.00.  After  the  concert,  a dance  was 
promised. 

Music  was  more  a part  of  the  social  life  than  it  is 
to-day.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  have  several  in- 
struments in  one  house.  For  example,  Governor 

292 


Amusements 


Burnet  possessed  a number  of  instruments,  including 
a large  bass  violin,  two  treble  violins,  a harpsichord,  a 
clapsichord,  a double  courtel,  and  a large  violin,  or 
tenor  fiddle  (a  viola).  This  would  show  that  quartets 
and  quintets  were  not  uncommon  enjoyments  within 
his  walls. 

It  was  perfectly  possible  to  buy  very  good  in- 
struments in  New  York.  Many  persons,  of  course, 
brought  their  own  with  them  from  England  and  car- 
ried them  home  when  they  returned.  Occasionally, 
too,  through  a death  or  a sale  of  household  goods,  a 
fine  instrument  could  be  obtained.  For  example,  in 
1752,  there  was  for  sale  “a  good  English  spinet 
(Hitchcock’s).  Enquire  of  the  Printer.”  Hitchcock 
was  one  of  the  best  London  makers.  Undoubtedly 
the  one  just  mentioned  was  similar  to  the  spinet 
shown  on  page  278,  belonging  to  the  collection  of 
Mr.  M.  Steinert  of  New  Haven,  Conn. 

One  of  the  characteristics  of  New  York  always 
was  that  of  purchasing  the  best  that  could  be  ob- 
tained, and  therefore  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  that 
the  most  fashionable  London  instruments  were  in 
demand.  Hitchcock’s  was  not  a new  firm,  as  their 
instruments  had  been  in  favour  even  during  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.  The  spinet  mentioned  above  was 
made  by  Hitchcock  about  1750.  Another  instru- 
ment of  that  period,  also  belonging  to  the  Steinert 
Collection,  appears  on  page  287.  This  is  a harpsi- 
chord with  two  keyboards  of  five  octaves  and  stops. 
It  was  made  in  London  in  1769  by  Jacobus  Kirk- 
man. 

Manuel  Josephson  sold  at  his  store  in  Smith 

293 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Street,  in  1761,  “brass  trumpets  and  French  horns.” 
Those  who  wanted  to  buy  violins,  flutes,  fifes,  and 
other  instruments  could  get  them  at  John  Anderson’s, 
on  Peck’s  Slip. 

Organs  could  be  procured,  in  1756,  from  Mr.  Wil- 
let,  who  made  them.  Another  organ-builder  was 
Frederick  Heyer,  who,  in  1773,  living  in  Broadway 


lent  tones  from  £27  to  £30  ; violins  from  £ 3-4-0  to 
£ 14  ; Violins  of  lower  prices  ; French  horns,  E with 
crooks ; German  flutes  of  all  kinds ; voice  flutes, 
hautboys,  English  or  common  flutes,  fifes,  tabors  and 
pipes;  pitch-pipes,  tuning-forks,  harpsichord  and 
spinet  hammers,  crow  quills,  harpsichord  and  Forte 
Piano  wire  ; rosin  boxes  ; mutes  for  violins ; mouth 
pieces  for  German  flutes  ; mouth  pieces  for  French 
horns  ; pens  to  rule  musick  ; ruled  books  of  all  sizes ; 
violin  bows,  the  Giardini  sort ; bridges  and  pegs  for 


Portrait  of  William  Walton,  owned 
by  the  New  York  Historical 
Society.  See  page  385. 


near  St.  Paul’s  Church, 
“ makes  and  repairs  harpsi- 
chords and  spinets  in  the 
neatest  manner  and  with 
despatch.  Has  some  new 
and  very  neat  Harpsi- 
chords for  sale ; also  a 
Chamber  Organ  which  may 
in  a short  time  be  com- 
pletely finished  and  en- 
larged (if  that  be  neces- 
sary) to  suit  a place  of 
public  worship.” 


In  1 773,  Rivington  had 
“ Forte  Pianos  of  excel- 


294 


Amusements 


fiddles  with  and  without  screws  ; bassoon,  hautboy  and 
bagpipe  reeds,  with  and  without  cases ; desks  for 
harpsichords ; violin  cases ; the  best  Italian  strings 
for  violins  ; violoncellos  ; genuine  German  wire  for 
harpsichords,  spinets,  piano  fortes  ; guitars  ; also  silk 
strings  for  guitars.” 

New  York  was  well  supplied  with  music  teachers. 
The  one  who  seems  to  have  had  the  greatest  influence 
was  William  Charles  Hulett,  who  came  in  1753  with 
the  Hallam  company.  lie  taught  the  violin,  and  in 
1 764  opened  a music-school  where  the  violin,  German 
flute  and  the  guitar  were  taught.  Another  was  Mr. 
Charles  Love,  also  of  London,  who  announced  in 
1753  that  he  “teaches  gentlemen  the  violin,  haut- 
boy, German  and  common  flutes,  bassoon,  French 
horn,  tenor  and  bass  viol.”  Mr.  Proctor,  a teacher 
of  the  harpsichord,  Mr.  Alexander  V.  Dienval,  who 
“teaches  the  violin,  German  flute,  tenor  and  bass 
viol,”  and  Peter  Pelham,  who  teaches  the  harpsichord, 
spinet  and  “Rules  of  thorough  bass”  were  the  other 
important  names  down  to  the  middle  of  the  century. 

Without  doubt,  the  best  musician  with  whom  New 
York  was  acquainted  was  Mr.  William  Tuckey  from 
Bristol,  who  noticed  the  general  neglect  of  singing, 
and  in  his  bid  for  favour  gave  a very  comprehensive 
account  of  the  condition  of  music.  lie  was  an  organ- 
ist,  a choir-master  and  a composer,  and  could  play  and 
teach  the  harpsichord.  Mr.  Tuckey  evidently  desired 
to  provide  the  city  with  plenty  of  good  music  and 
to  elevate  its  taste.  Mr.  Tuckey  may  speak  for  him- 
self, even  if  he  is  somewhat  egotistical.  In  1754,  he 
published  the  following  : 

295 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“William  Tuckey,  singing  - master,  desires  to  inform  all 
lovers  of  psalmody  that  in  order  to  encourage  and  amend  the 
singing  in  public  congregations  in  this  city,  all  persons  may  be 
taught  by  him  on  very  reasonable  terms.  As  a great  expecta- 
tion of  encouragement  in  this  way  was  the  only  motive  which 
induced  him  to  leave  the  cathedral  of  Bristol,  whereof  he  was 
for  several  years  vicar  choral,  and  clerk  of  a parish  also  in  said 
city,  places  of  considerable  profit  and  on  an  establishment  of 
both  for  life;  and  not  meeting  the  encouragement  he  expected, 
is  resolved  to  teach  here  no  longer  than  one  year  more,  which 
may  be  depended  on.  And  as  there  is  no  person  in  this  coun- 
try duly  qualified  in  the  musical  way,  who  has  made  a practice 
of  teaching  but  himself,  not  only  in  church  music  in  all  its 
branches,  according  to  the  English,  Dutch,  French,  or  Italian 
method,  but  also  in  the  knowledge  of  a thorough  bass  and  com- 
posing music  in  parts  both  vocal  and  instrumental,  manage- 
ment of  music  for  concerts,  etc.  He  humbly  hopes,  through 
this  information  to  meet  with  better  encouragement,  or  at  least 
to  establish  the  singing  of  parochial  psalms  on  a better  and 
perfecter  foundation  than  it  hath  been  for  some  time  past.  He 
will  undertake  to  compose,  or  set  to  music,  any  piece  on  any 
subject,  divine  or  moral,  either  in  prose  or  verse,  and  adapt  the 
music  according  to  the  sense  of  the  subject  for  the  organ,  harp- 
sichord or  spinnet,  on  application  to  him  and  a moderate  satis- 
faction. Specimens  of  his  composing  may  be  seen  at  any  time,, 
by  any  gentlemen  or  ladies  who  desire  it  and  understand 
music.” 

Teachers  at  the  close  of  our  period  included  James 
Leadbeater,  organ,  harpsichord  and  spinet ; D.  Pro- 
pert,  organ,  harpsichord,  guitar  and  German  flute  ; 
Herman  Zedvvitz,  “pupil  of  several  of  the  most  emi- 
nent masters  now  in  London  and  Germany,”  violin  ; 
and  Nicholas  Biferi  from  Naples,  “ singing  after  the 
Italian  way,”  the  harpsichord,  and  composition.  In 
1774,  the  latter  establishes  an  “Academy”  for  music, 
dancing  and  languages,  his  associates  being  Pietro 

296 


Amusements 


Sodi,  dancing-master,  and  Joseph  Cozani,  who  teaches 
French  and  Italian. 

Concerts  were  a favourite  form  of  entertainment. 
An  advertisement  as  early  as  1735,  shows  how  fond 
amateurs  were  of  playing  : 

“ To-morrow,  the  9th  of 
March  Instant,  there  will  be  a 
Consort  of  Music,  Vocal  and  In- 
strumental, for  the  Benefit  of 
Mr.  Pachelbel.  The  Harpsicord 
Part  performed  by  himself.  The 
Songs,  Violins  and  German  Flute 
by  private  Hands.  The  Consort 
will  begin  precisely  at  6 o’clock 
at  the  House  of  Robert  Todd, 

Vintner.” 

After  this  the  concerts 
took  place  in  the  New  Ex- 
change, or  Assembly  Room. 

The  price  of  admission 
averaged  six  shillings,  the  hour  for  beginning  being 
six  o’clock,  and  the  concert  usually  ending  with  a 
ball.  The  teachers  already  mentioned  frequently 
gave  concerts  for  their  own  benefits,  and  were  active 
in  organizing  subscription  concerts.  The  latter  was 
sometimes  difficult,  but  Mr.  Hulett,  who  for  years 
took  charge  of  these  regular  concerts,  was  evidently 
persistent.  In  1767  we  read  : 

“ The  Subscription  Concert  to  be  given  this  and  every 
evening  during  the  season  exactly  at  Half  Past  Six  o’clock.  As 
many  gentlemen  were  not  to  be  found  at  Home  when  they 
were  waited  on  with  the  Subscription  Book,  Mr.  Hulett 
acquaints  them  that  he  will  wait  on  them  on  the  next 
Notice.” 


Portrait  of  Mrs.  William  Walton, 
owned  by  the  New  York  His- 
torical Society.  See  page  385* 


297 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Again  there  were  special  concerts  of  special  instru- 
ments— recitals  we  should  call  them  to-day — like  the 
following  for  March  18,  1756  : “ On  Tuesday,  the  18th 
instant,  will  be  opened  at  the  City  Hall  a New  Organ, 
made  by  Gilbert  Ash,  where  will  be  performed  a con- 
cert of  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music.  (Two  songs 
by  Mr.  Handel.)  An  organ  concerto  composed  by 
Sigr.  Giovanni  Adolffo  Hasse.  For  the  benefit  of  a 
poor  woman.” 

Benefit  concerts  were  frequent,  and,  as  a rule,  the 
programme  was  both  vocal  and  instrumental.  At  a 
benefit  for  Mr.  Dienval  in  1764,  “ at  the  conclusion 
of  the  performance  will  be  sung  a grand  chorus  song, 
accompanied  with  kettledrums  and  trumpets  or  clari- 
nets.” A concert  for  the  benefit  of  William  Cobham 
and  William  Tuckey,  took  place  Dec.  29,  1755,  at  the 
New  Exchange  Room.  The  programme  was  com- 
posed of  both  vocal  and  instrumental  music,  and  the 
numbers  included  : Damon  and  Chloe , composed  by 
Dr.  Arne  ; a two-part  song  in  praise  of  a soldier,  com- 
posed by  the  late  famous  Mr.  Henry  Purcell  ; and 
an  ode  on  masonry  accompanied  with  instruments 
and  never  performed  in  England  but  once  in  pub- 
lic ; and  a solo  on  the  German  flute  by  Mr.  Cob- 
ham.  “After  the  concert  there  will  be  a ball  for  the 
ladies.” 

Sometimes  also  there  were  benefits  for  the  military 
band  stationed  at  Fort  George.  For  example,  we 
read  : “ For  the  benefit  of  the  Royal  American  Band 
of  Musick  on  Monday,  2d  April,  1767,  will  be  held 
a concert  of  vocal  and  instrumental  music  at  Mr. 
Burns’s  New  Assembly  Rooms.”  In  1775,  also,  a 

298 


Amusements 


public  concert  for  the  benefit  of  a band  of  music  is  to 
be  held  at  Mr.  Hull’s  Assembly  Rooms.” 

The  concert  was  a great  feature  at  both  Vauxhall 
and  Ranelagh,  and  here  Mr.  Stephen  Woolls,  Miss 
Wainwright,  Mrs.  Harmon,  Mrs.  Hallarn  and  the 
Storer  sisters,  frequently  appeared.  These  singers 
often  gave  benefit  concerts  at  Burns’s  Assembly 
Room. 

A concert  took  place  at  Mr.  Hull’s  Assembly 
Room  on  May  26,  1774,  for  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Biferi 
and  Mr.  Sodi : “The  said  concert  will  be  divided  into 
two  Acts,  each  Act  composed  of  four  pieces.  Mr. 
Biferi,  master  of  music  from  Naples,  will  perform  on 
the  harpsichord  a piece  of  music  of  his  own  composi- 
tion with  the  orchestra  ; in  the  second  act,  he  will 
perform  a solo  accompanied  with  the  violin.  There 
will  follow  a ball  in  which  Mr.  Sodi  will  dance  the 
louvre  and  the  minuet  with  Miss  Sodi,  a young  lady 
nine  years  of  age  ; and  Miss  Sodi  will  dance  a riga- 
doon  with  young  Mr.  Hulett.” 

With  regard  to  church  music,  we  may  be  perfectly 
sure  that  after  Mr.  Tuckey  came  to  New  York  in 
1754,  there  was  great  improvement.  A good  organ 
made  by  John  Clemm  had  been  erected  in  Trinity 
Church  in  1741,  and  in  1764,  another,  built  by  Snetz- 
ler,  was  brought  from  England  and  put  in  its  place. 
It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  the  music  composed  by 
the  leading  choir-masters  and  organists  of  England 
was  known  here.  The  following,  printed  on  Oct.  16, 

1 766,  gives  us  some  hint  of  what  was  popular  : 

“By  particular  desire  of  a good  number  of  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen of  credit  and  character  in  this  city,  there  will  be  a con- 

299 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


cert  of  vocal  and  instrumental  music  at  Mr.  Burns’s  new  room 
on  Thursday  the  30th  Inst. ; to  begin  at  six  o’clock  in  the 
Evening. 

“This  concert  will  consist  of  nothing  but  Church  Music  in 
which  will  be  introduced  a new  Te  Deum,  Jubilate  Deo,  Cantate 
Domino  and  Deus  Magnificatur  with  an  Anthem  (in  which  there 
is  an  obbligato  part  for  a harp,  as  there  also  is  in  the  Cantate 
Domino)  with  several  other  pieces  of  church  music  intermixed 
with  other  instrumental  performances  in  order  to  ease  the 
voices.  The  whole  to  conclude  with  a Martial  Psalm  (46th) 
accompanied  with  all  the  instruments  and  a pair  of  drums.” 


“ Stage- Waggons  kept  by  John  Barnhill,  Elm  Street, 
Philadelphia,  and  John  Mercereau  at  the  New 
Blazing  Star,  near  New  York.”  (1768.) 


300 


IV 


BALLS,  ASSEMBLIES  AND  PUBLIC  ENTERTAINMENTS 

One  of  Society’s  chief  diversions  was  dancing  ; 
but  the  dances  of  the  Georgian  age  were  far  more 
graceful  than  those  of  to-day.  We  cannot  doubt 
that  there  were  many  entertainments  in  private  homes 
for  which  Mr.  Lenzi  and  other  caterers  supplied  the 
supper  and  made  the  table  attractive  with  sweets,  jel- 
lies, custards,  cakes,  syllabubs,  wines  and  fruits.  The 
slightest  as  well  as  the  more  important  gathering,  of 
persons  furnished  the  excuse  for  a ball.  We  have 
seen  that  nearly  every  concert  ended  with  a ball,  or 
that  “ the  proper  music  would  wait  on  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  ” after  the  programme  had  been  played 
and  sung. 

Balls,  as  well  as  concerts,  were  given  for  the  bene- 
fit of  musicians,  dancing-masters  and  others,  and  tick- 
ets were  sold  for  these  at  four  or  five  shillings. 

The  Assembly  seems  to  have  been  a kind  of  danc- 
ing club  or  class  that  met  regularly  during  the  winter. 
It  was  composed  of  the  most  fashionable  people  of 
the  city.  In  1759,  we  read  : “ The  Dancing  Assembly 
will  be  opened  at  Mr.  Edward  Willet’s  on  the  evening 
of  Dec.  8th,  and  will  continue  every  other  Thursday 
evening  from  that  time  during  the  season.  Directors  : 
Duane,  Walton,  M’Evers,  Banyer.”  Two  of  these 
directors  seem  to  have  liked  their  social  duties  in 


301 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

connection  with  this  organization,  for  in  1 763  we 
read  : 

“Several  gentlemen  have  declined  taking  charge  of  the 
Dancing  Assembly  again  as  being  a disagreeable  and  unthank- 
ful office.  Therefore  Charles  M’Evers  and  C.  Duane,  being 
sensible  of  the  advantage  of  so  useful  and  polite  an  entertain- 
ment have  taken  charge  till  managers  agreeable  to  the  public 
shall  be  elected.” 


Philip  Livingston  and  Thomas  Hicks  seem  to 
have  been  elected,  for  their  names  are  signed  as  man- 
agers. On  Oct.  24,  1 763, 
they  announced  that  “ The 
New  York  Subscription 
Assembly  will  begin  at  six 
of  the  clock  this  evening  at 
Mr.  Burns’s  Assembly  Room 
in  the  Broad- Way.”  On  Oct. 
23,  1 766,  we  read  : “ Dancing 
Assembly  will  be  opened  at 
Burns’s  long  room  on  Thurs- 
day, the  30th  Inst,  at  6 p.  m., 
and  continued  once  every 
fortnight  during  the  season.” 
The  managers  were  Gerard 


Angelica  Schuyler’s  gown,  Walton,  John  Marston  and 
worn  by  her  descendant,  Wmiam  Seton. 

Miss  Angelica  Schuyler  „ . . 

, c 1 hese  Dancing  Assem- 

Church.  Seepage  315.  # & 

blies  were  long  in  vogue  ; and 
appear  to  have  been  among  the  most  important  en- 
tertainments that  New  York  afforded.  In  an  unpub- 
lished diary  of  the  period  written  in  1 741-7  by  Elisha 
Parker,  a young  lawyer  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey 

302 


Amusements 


in  1724,  and  came  to  New  York  in  1740  to  study  law 
with  James  Alexander,  there  is  mention  of  these 
dances.  Young  Parker  was  studious  and  diligent, 
but  found  time  to  enjoy  himself.  He  was  well-con- 
nected and  through  the  Alexanders  had  many  oppor- 
tunities for  forming  new  acquaintances.  His  diary, 
unfortunately,  is  short  and  fragmentary.  He  lived  at 
Mrs.  Ver  Planck’s  in  the  Broad-Way.  Pie  gives  us 
a very  clear  idea  of  his  daily  life  when  he  notes  : 

“ Used  to  get  up  early  and  breakfast  and  go  to  Mr.  Alex- 
ander’s; write  from  eight  till  dinner-time;  come  to  my  lodgings 
and  eat  dinner;  go  back  and  write  (I  think)  till  six  o'clock; 
then  read  with  him  in  his  room  till  supper-time.” 

“Came  to  New  York  where  I spent  the  winter;  lodged  at 
Mrs.  Vangelder’s ; spent  chief  of  my  time  at  Mr.  Alexander’s 
in  the  day ; law  and  business  at  night ; continued  as  we  had 
done  the  winter  before  at  mathematics  with  his  son.  At 
Morrisania  with  J.  Depeyster ; in  December  my  grandmother 
dyed;  in  ye  holidays  the  cocks  fought.  . . . Young  assembly 
in  Broadway ; many  entertainments  by  the  parents  of  the  young 
ladies,  I think  same  the  winter  before.  Mrs.  Baker  McIntosh, 
C.  Breton  officers,  Harrison;  Twelfth  Cakes  sometime  the  be- 
ginning of  the  winter.”  (1745.) 

“ Much  frolicking  this  winter  ; at  first  not  acquainted  with 
any  of  the  officers;  David  Johnston  intimate;  introduced  to 
’em;  got  intimate  with  Rob  and  Tyr.  . . . Cards;  diversions; 
more  time  spent  with  Ladies;  few  frolicks  at  their  homes; 
Mrs.  A’s  family  in  mourning;  Dr.  dead;  J.  V’  Horne  hurt  him- 
self ; big  foolish  affair  about  big  mistake ; frolick  at  Mrs.  John- 
ston’s; Sam  Bayard.  . . . J.  Stevens  lodg’d  sometimes  with  me 
at  Mrs.  Vangelder’s:  our  jaunt  to  Morrisania  in  a slay;  dined 
at  J.  Bass’s  with  Ladies;  young  Assembly;  asked  also  to  the 

Old.”  (1747) 

Such  were  the  pleasures  of  the  day.  One  of 
the  ladies  with  whom  Mr.  Parker  used  to  frolic  and 


303 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

dance  at  these  assemblies  was  Miss  Catherine  Alex- 
ander whom  he  subsequently  married  (see  page  73). 
The  dancing-academy  seems  to  have  been  somewhat 
similar  to  the  Assembly,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
following  announcement  of  Oct.  19,  1772:  “The 
dancing  academy  begins  Thursday  the  22nd  inst. 
John  Reade,  John  Jay,  Robert  S.  Livingston,  Junr. 
Managers.” 

The  entertainments  given  at  the  Fort  were  espe- 
cially brilliant.  The  Governor  frequently  issued  invi- 
tations which,  naturally  enough,  were  much  sought 
after.  His  Majesty’s  birthday  was  always  given  up 
to  demonstrations  of  every  kind  that  could  fill  the 
hours  of  a holiday.  In  the  evening  there  were  several 
balls,  the  most  distinguished  being  that  given  at  His 
Excellency’s  home  in  the  Fort.  We  cite  a few  con- 
temporary descriptions  of  these  demonstrations  : 

“ His  Majesty’s  Birthday,  was  observed  here  with  the  usual 
solemnity.  Between  the  hours  of  eleven  and  twelve  in  the 
forenoon,  his  Excellency,  our  Governour  was  attended  at  his 
House  in  Fort  George  by  the  Council,  Assembly,  Merchants, 
and  other  Principal  Gentlemen  and  Inhabitants  of  this  and  the 
adjacent  Places.  The  Independent  Companies  posted  here  be- 
ing under  Arms  and  the  Cannon  round  the  Ramparts  firing 
while  His  Majesty,  the  Queen’s,  the  Prince’s,  the  Royal  Fam- 
ilies, and  their  Royal  Highnesses,  the  Prince  and  Princess  of 
Orange’s  Healths  were  drunk  ; and  then  followed  the  Healths 
of  his  Grace,  the  Duke  of  New-Castle,  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton, 
of  the  Right  Honourable  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  and  many  other 
Royal  Healths.  In  the  Evening  the  whole  City  was  illumi- 
nated, his  Excellency  and  Lady  gave  a splendid  Ball  and  Supper 
at  the  Fort,  where  was  the  most  Numerous  and  fine  Appear- 
ance of  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  that  had  ever  been  known  upon 
the  like  occasion.”  (1734.) 


304 


Amusements 


The  anniversary  of  the  King’s  accession  and  of  the 
Queen’s  birthday  were  similarly  observed.  Of  the 
King’s  birthday  in  1735  we  read  : 

“ The  Evening  was  concluded  with  all  demonstrations  of 
Loyalty  and  Joy.  There  was  a Ball  and  Entertainment  at  the 
Fort  at  which  the  Ap- 
pearance of  Gentlemen 
and  Ladies  was  very 
splendid,  many  of  them 
in  New  Cloaths  and 
very  Rich  in  Honour  of 
the  Day.” 

“The  Prince  of 
Wales’s  Birthday  was 
celebrated  at  the  Black 
Horse  in  a most  elegant 
and  genteel  Manner. 

There  was  a most  mag- 
nificent Appearance  of 
Gentlemen  and  Ladies. 

The  Ball  began  with 
French  Dances , and  then 
the  Company  proceeded 
to  Country  Dances , upon 
which  Mrs.  Norris  led  up 
two  new  Country  Dances 
made  upon  the  Occasion ; Dress  owned  originally  by  Susannah  de 
the  first  of  which  was  Lancey,  daughter  of  James  de  Lancey, 

called  The  Prince  of  Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York, 

Wa/es,  and  the  second,  1747—1760,  and  acting  Governor, 

The  Princess  of  Saxe-  1757—1760.  Worn  by  Miss  Susan 

Gotha , in  Honour  of  the  de  Lancey  Fenimore  Cooper,  who  in- 

Day.  There  was  a most  herited  it  from  her  grandmother,  Susan 

sumptuous  Entertain-  de  Lancey. 

ment  afterward.  At  the 

conclusion  of  which  the  Honourable  Rip  Van  Dam,  Esq.,  presi- 
dent of  His  Majesty’s  Council  began  the  Royal  Healths,  which 

305 


2 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

were  all  drank  in  Bumpers.  The  whole  was  conducted  with 
the  utmost  Decency,  Mirth  and  Chearfulness.”  (1736.) 

“A  Jack  was  displayed  all  the  day  from  a flagstaff  6n  the 
south  west  bastion  of  Fort  George,  the  City  Regiment  of  Mi- 
litia and  troops  were  under  arms,  and  reviewed  by  His  Excel- 
lency George  Clinton,  Esq.,  our  Governor,  from  the  piazza  of 
the  City  Hall,  as  they  passed  by  from  the  Broad  Way,  where 
they  had  been  drawn  up,  and  they  made  a very  handsome 
figure,  his  Excellency  being  attended  by  some  of  the  Gentle- 
men of  the  Council,  the  Mayor,  Corporation  and  Officers  of 
the  militia,  entertained  them  in  honour  of  the  day  with  a most 
extraordinary  glass  of  wine  (such  as  is  rare  to  be  met  with  in 
any  private  house)  from  Hugh  Crawford’s  near  at  hand,  and 
there  were  drunk  His  Majesty’s  and  other  Royal  Healths, 
under  the  discharge  of  twenty-one  of  the  artillery  of  the  Fort, 
His  Majesty  having  now  entered  into  the  65th  year  of  his  age. 

“ In  the  evening  there  was  a private  entertainment  and  ball 
at  His  Excellency’s,  consisting  of  a snug  select  company  of 
the  choicest  fruits  of  the  town,  that  were  particularly  invited 
for  the  purpose,  the  only  entertainment  of  the  kind  that  His 
Excellency’s  leisure  has  admitted  of  upon  such  public  occasions 
during  his  administration ; the  company  was  very  sociable,  and 
the  night  concluded  there  as  usual. 

“The  gentlemen  that  had  not  the  honour  to  be  invited  to 
His  Excellency’s  ball  resolved  not  to  be  behindhand  in  their 
demonstrations  of  loyalty  on  this  occasion,  and  therefore 
ordered  a public  entertainment  to  be  provided  against  the  even- 
ing at  Mr.  Ramsey’s  tavern,  where  there  was  a very  splendid 
and  beautiful  appearance  of  ladies,  such  as  would  have  graced 
an  Assembly  in  England.  There  were  several  gentlemen  of 
the  Council  and  Corporation,  and  most  of  the  principal  mer- 
chants and  other  gentlemen  in  the  city,  that  made  up  a gay 
and  numerous  assembly. 

“ The  ball  was  opened  about  six  o’clock,  the  city  being 
illuminated  from  one  end  to  the  other,  the  supper  was  served 
up  about  ten,  and  notwithstanding  the  short  warning  given, 
there  was  the  greatest  variety  this  town  or  country  could  pro- 
duce, and  the  tables  were  decorated  in  so  neat  and  elegant  a 

306 


Amusements 


manner  as  raised  a general  admiration  and  ’twas  declared  by 
good  judges  that  never  was  a more  magnificent  entertainment 
in  this  country.  The  whole  tables  were  taken  up  with  ladies 
the  length  of  two  rooms  laid  into  one,  that  the  gentlemen’s 
time  was  generally 
employed  in  waiting 
on  them,  and  when 
they  were  done  the 
gentlemen  supplied 
their  places.  After 
supper,  His  Majesty’s, 
the  Prince  and  Prin- 
cess of  Wales,  and  the 
other  Royal  Healths 
were  drunk,  and  then 
prosperity  to  the  prov- 
ince, a speedy  exporta- 
tion of  its  enemies,  etc. 

“ The  whole  affair 
was  conducted  with 
the  utmost  decency 
and  decorum ; there 
was  the  greatest  gai- 
ety, cheerfulness  and 
complacency  in  every 
countenance.  The 
ball  was  concluded 
about  5 a.  m.  and  the 
night  was  passed  in 
the  general  satisfac- 
tion, without  the  least  incivility  offered  or  offence  taken  by 
any  one,  which  is  scarce  to  be  said  on  the  like  occasions.  We 
are  told  this  was  distinguished  by  the  title  of  the  Country 
Ball.”  (1748.) 


Dress  belonging  to  Judith  Crommelin  Ver 
Planck  in  1760,  worn  by  a member  of 
the  family. 


Birthdays  of  other  important  men  afforded  the 
opportunity  for  festivities.  For  example,  on  Jan.  17, 
1765,  the  papers  report:  “Monday  last,  being  the 

307 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

birthday  of  the  Marquis  of  Granby,  Master  of  the 
Ordnance,  in  the  evening  an  elegant  entertainment 
was  provided  by  the  officers  of  the  artillery,  and  sev- 
eral curious  fireworks  were  exhibited  in  the  fields.” 

There  were  a number  of  patriotic,  benevolent,  and 
political  societies  and  social  clubs  in  the  city.  Un- 
fortunately the  records  of  these  organizations  are 
scanty.  One  of  the  most  important  was  that  of  St. 
George,  the  patron  saint  of  England.  This  continued 
in  existence  until  1781.  It  seems  to  have  been  a very 
important  social  organization.  St.  George’s  Day 
(April  23)  was  always  marked  by  some  entertainment. 
For  example  : 

“ Friday  last  being  the  anniversary  of  St.  George,  his  Ex- 
cellency Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  gave  a ball  to  the  gentlemen  and 
ladies  of  this  city  at  Cranley’s  New  Assembly  Room.  The 
company  consisted  of  69  ladies  and  as  many  gentlemen,  all 
very  richly  dressed;  and  ’tis  said  the  entertainment  was  the 
most  elegant  ever  seen  in  America.”  (1762).  In  1771  “a  num- 
ber of  Englishmen  descendants  of  Englishmen  amounting  on 
the  whole  to  upward  of  120,  had  an  elegant  entertainment  at 
Bolton’s  in  honour  of  the  day  . . . Twenty-three  toasts 

were  drunk  and  the  company  parted  at  early  dawn  in  high  good 
humour.”  Among  those  present  were  the  Rt.  Hon.  the  Earl 
of  Dunmore,  his  Excellency  Gen.  Gage  His  Majesty’s  Attorney- 
General,  the  gentlemen  of  His  Majesty’s  Council,  and  Presi- 
dent John  Tabor  Kemp,  Esq. 

The  Irishmen  had  their  St.  Patrick  Society  and 
the  Scotchmen  their  St.  Andrew  Society. 

“ The  anniversary  feast  of  St.  Patrick  is  to  be  celebrated 
on  Wednesday,  the  17th  Inst,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Mar- 
shall, at  Mount  Pleasant,  near  the  College.  Gentlemen  that 
please  to  attend  will  meet  with  the  best  usage.”  (1762.) 

308 


Amusements 


“ Monday  last  being  the  anniversary  of  St.  Patrick,  tutelar 
saint  of  Ireland,  was  ushered  in  at  the  dawn  with  fifes  and 
drums  which  produced  a very  agreeable  harmony  before  the 
doors  of  many  gentlemen  of  that  nation,  and  others.  Many  of 
them  assembled  and  spent  a joyous  though  orderly  evening  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Bardin  in  this  city.”  (1766.)  Twenty-three 
toasts  were  drunk. 

“ Last  Monday  the  anniversary  of  St.  Nicholas,  otherwise 
called  Santa  Claus,  was  celebrated  at  Protestant  Hall,  at  Mr. 
Waldron’s,  where  a great  number  of  the  Sons 
of  that  ancient  saint  celebrated  the  day  with 
great  joy  and  festivity.”  (1773.) 

“March  7,  1774.  Last  Tuesday,  being  St. 

David’s  Day,  a very  elegant  entertain- 
ment was  given  at  Hull’s  in  honour  of 
their  tutelar  Saint,  by  the  officers  of 
H.  M.  Welsh  Fusilears  to  their  Excel- 
lencies the  Governor  and  General  and 
the  gentlemen  of  the  military  estab- 
lishment. Wednesday,  another  very  ele- 
gant entertainment  was  given  at  Hull’s 
His  Excellency  the  Governor  to  the  Hon- 
ourable the  Gentlemen  of  His  Majesty’s 
Council  and  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly.” 

“March  21,  1774.  Tuesday  morning 
last,  the  gentlemen  who  compose  the  most 
benevolent  Society  of  the  Friendly  Broth- 
ers of  St.  Patrick  gave  a very  elegant 
breakfast  at  Hull’s  to  the  principal  ladies  and  gentlemen  of 
this  city  in  commemoration  of  the  tutelar  saint  of  Ireland.” 

“ Friday  last,  being  the  anniversary  of  St.  Andrew,  the 
same  was  observed  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  Scots  Society  of 
this  city,  and  others.  A splendid  and  elegant  dinner  was  pro- 
vided at  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Thompson  ; the  colours  being 
displayed  on  board  the  ships  in  the  harbour,  particularly  the 
ship  Pritice  William,  Capt.  Bishop,  was  beautifully  decorated. 
His  Majesty,  the  Royal  Family  and  the  other  loyal  toasts  were 

309 


Locket  painted  in  the 
miniature  style  and 
set  with  diamonds  ; 
owned  by  Mrs. 
Martha  Colgate 
Singleton.  See 
page  315. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

drunk,  while  the  cannon  on  board  the  Prince  William  were 
discharging.  In  the  evening  they  went  in  procession  to  the 
theatre  in  Nassau  Street  attended  by  a vast  concourse  of  peo- 
P!e”  ( 1 753-) 

“ On  Wednesday  being  St.  Andrew’s  Day,  the  Resident  and 
Honorary  Members  of  the  New  York  St.  Andrew’s  Society 
held  their  Anniversary  meeting  at  Scotch  Johnny’s  where, 
agreeable  to  the  intention  of  the  charitable  institution,  a con- 
siderable sum  of  money,  it  is  said,  was  collected  for  the  use  of 
the  poor.  After  which  as  there  happened  to  be  a great  many 
Scotch  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  army  in  town,  upwards  of 
sixty  members  in  all  dined  together  in  a most  elegant  manner. 
Many  loyal  and  patriot  toasts  were  drunk  on  the  occasion, 
heartily  yet  soberly.  In  the  evening,  the  same  company  gave  a 
ball  and  entertainment  at  the  Exchange  Room  and  King’s  Arms 
Tavern  to  the  town,  at  which  a large  and  polite  company  of 
both  sexes  assembled.  The  ladies  in  particular  made  a most 
brilliant  appearance,  and  it  is  thought  there  scarcely  ever  was 
before  so  great  a number  of  elegantly  dressed  fine  women  seen 
together  at  one  place  in  North  America.  As  there  was  a great 
many  of  His  Majesty’s  officers  present,  several  too  of  the  first 
rank,  who  had  never  before  seen  a public  company  of  ladies  in 
this  part  of  the  world,  they  were  most  agreeably  surprised  and 
struck  with  the  charming  sight ! The  whole  was  conducted 
with  the  utmost  regularity,  decency  and  elegance;  and  nothing 
but  gaiety,  good  humour  and  universal  satisfaction  appeared 
from  beginning  to  end.”  (1757.) 

New  York  was  never  niggardly  in  greeting  a 
distinguished  individual.  Slight  as  the  following  ac- 
count of  Jan.  5,  1756,  may  be,  it  furnishes  us  with  an 
idea  of  the  city’s  enthusiastic  welcome  to  Sir  William 
Johnson,  the  hero  of  the  battle  of  Lake  George  : 

“ Last  Tuesday,  Major  General  Johnson  arrived  here  from 
Albany  ; about  6 miles  out  of  town  he  was  met  by  a considerable 
number  of  gentlemen  on  horseback  who  conducted  him  to  the 
King’s  Arms  tavern,  where  most  of  the  principal  inhabitants 

310 


Amusements 


were  assembled  to  congratulate  him  on  his  safe  arrival.  The 
ships  in  the  habour  saluted  him  as  he  passed  the  street,  amidst 
the  acclamations  of  the  people.  At  night  the  city  was  beauti- 
fully illuminated  and  the  general  joy  displayed  on  this  occa- 
sion evidenced  the  high  gratitude  of  the  people  for  the  singu- 
lar services  this  gentleman  has  done  his  country  in  the  late 
expedition.” 

Society  was  always  glad  to  seize  any  opportunity 
for  a social  evening,  a dance,  or  a feast.  The  officers 
of  the  garrison  were  foremost  in  promoting  brilliant 
entertainments,  and  there  was  also  much  quiet  convivi- 
ality among  citizens.  The  following  paragraphs  may 
be  quoted  as  instances  : 

“ Monday  last  in  the  evening  a grand  entertainment  was 
given  by  the  gentlemen  officers  of  the  army  to  the  ladies  and 
gentlemen  of  this  city  ; at  which  we  hear  there  was  the  most 
numerous  and  brilliant  appearance  of  both  sexes  that  ever  was 
known  in  this  place.”  (Jan.  26,  1767.) 

“The  friends  of  Messrs.  John  Cruger,  James  De  Lancey, 
Jacob  Walton,  and  James  Jauncey,  who  are  inclined  to  spend  a 
day  together  in  a social  manner,  are  requested  to  meet  at 
Burns’s  Long  Room  to-morrow  evening  at  six  o’clock  in  order 
to  fix  the  time.”  (Jan.  30,  1769.) 

“ On  Monday  evening  there  was  a very  numerous  and  most 
brilliant  appearance  of  ladies  at  a ball  in  Hull’s  Assembly 
Room  on  occasion  of  Mrs.  Trvons’  and  His  Excellency  our 
gracious  Governor’s  departure  for  England.”  (April  n,  1774.) 

There  was  a Flying  Club  advertised  to  meet  on 
Nov.  21,  1773  * and  a Society  of  the  Friendly  Brothers 
in  1774,  when  we  learn  that  the  “concert  which  was 
to  have  been  given  at  the  Assembly  Room  is  deferred 
on  account  of  the  public  Breakfast  of  the  Gentlemen 
who  compose  the  Society  of  the  Friendly  Brothers. 
There  was  also  a Social  Club,  which  met  in  the  winter 

311 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


at  Fraunces’s  Tavern.  A function  of  much  social 
brilliance,  attended  by  the  Governor  and  all  the  nota- 
bilities, was  the  annual  Commencement  of  King’s  Col- 
lege. That  of  1767 
is  typical  of  many. 


“Last  Tuesday  a 
Publick  Commencement 
was  held  at  St.  George’s 
Chapel  in  this  City. 
His  Excellency  the  Gov- 
ernor, Sir  Jeffrey  Am- 
herst, several  of  the 
Members  of  His  Maj- 
esty’s Council  and  a 
polite,  crowded,  and 
splendid  audience  of 
Gentlemen  and  Ladies 
were  pleased  to  honour 
the  day  with  their  Com- 
pany. 

“ The  Ceremony  be- 
gan with  suitable  prayer 
and  an  elegant  Latin 
Oration  by  the  Rev. 
Myles  Cooper,  A.  M., 
President  of  the  Col- 
lege: To  these  suc- 

ceeded a very  spirited 
Salutatory  Oration  by 
Mr.  De  Peyster,  deliv- 
Tea-table  and  silver  mugs  (1763-1764),  ered  with  a very  decent 
owned  by  Thomas  Barrow.  See  pages  Action  and  proper  Em- 
112  and  138.  phasis.  Then  followed 

Syllogistic  Disputations 
in  Latin  upon  the  following  Questions.  The  Bachelors  Thesis, 
An,  M ateria  habeatin  se  vim  adivam  ? The  Negative  also  was  main- 
tained in  a Latin  Philosophical  Dissertation  by  Mr.  B.  Cuyler. 


312 


Amusements 


‘•The  Thesis  for  the  Masters,  was — An , sublato  statu  futuroy 
ulla  meneat  ad  virtutem  obligatio  ? 

“ The  negative  of  which  was  strongly  supported  in  another 
Latin  composition  by  Mr.  S.  Bayard. 

“A  concise  and  full  Refutation  of  Mr.  Hobbes’s  Principles 
was  offered  in  a masterly  Manner,  in  an  English  essay  on  the 
much  contested  Position — Ultrum  Status  Naturae,  jit  status  Belli. 

“The  Exercises  being  finished,  the  President  conferred  on 
the  following  young  Gentlemen  the  Degree  of  Batchelor  of 
Arts  : Messrs.  De  Peyster  and  Cuyler.  And  the  Degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  on  Messrs.  Verplanck,  Livingston,  Watts,  Bayard,  Wil- 
kins, Hoffman  and  Marston. 

“ The  Ceremony  was  succeeded  by  a polite  English  Valedic- 
tory oration,  genteely  addressed  to  the  most  respectable  parts 
of  the  Audience,  and  gracefully  delivered  by  Mr.  Philip  Liv- 
ingston. 

“Then  followed  a very  proper  and  serious  English  Address 
from  the  President  to  the  young  Gentlemen ; which  with  a 
suitable  Prayer  concluded  the  Business  of  the  Day. — 

“ The  Whole  was  conducted  with  great  Propriety,  Decency 
and  Order,  and  to  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Numerous  and  Polite 
Audience. 

“His  Excellency  the  Governour,  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst,  the 
Members  of  his  Majesty’s  Council,  and  many  Gentlemen  of 
Distinction,  honoured  the  Governors  of  the  College  with  their 
Company  in  the  College  Hall  at  Dinner.” 

In  1771,  a reporter  became  enthusiastic  over  the 
performances  of  the  day  : 

“ It  is  with  sincere  satisfaction  we  observe  that  the  young 
gentlemen  performed  their  several  exercises  with  such  propriety 
of  pronunciation  and  gracefulness  of  gesture  as  obtained  the 
highest  applauses  from  the  most  numerous  and  respectable 
audience  that  ever  assembled  in  this  city  on  such  an  occasion. 
Every  lover  of  his  country  and  admirer  of  the  sciences  must 
have  seen  with  joy  so  fair  a train  of  youth,  promising  by  their 
present  improvements  future  excellence  in  their  respective  pro- 
fessions and  consequential  advantages  to  their  country.  A 

313 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


correspondent  observes  that  of  the  many  excellent  speeches 
delivered  at  our  last  Commencement,  the  following  is  perhaps 
not  the  least  true,  tho’  it  be  not  the  most  polite : 

“ That  is  a very  learned  young  gentleman — a very  young 
learned  gentleman  indeed.  And  after  he  has  seen  a little  more 
of  the  world,  and  been  kicked  down  stairs  two  or  three  times 
for  his  impertinence — he  will  be  much  the  better  for  it.” 

During  the  first  half  of  the  century,  the  average 
New  Yorker  was  too  busy  to  care  much  about  higher 


Chairs  owned  by  Cornelia  Haring  in  1765  ; now  by  her  descendants, 
Mrs.  Wilmot  T.  Cox  and  Mrs.  French  Ensor  Chadwick.  See 
page  315. 


education.  King’s  College  was  not  founded  till  1754- 
In  1748,  Cadwallader  Colden  complained  : “Tho’  the 
Province  of  New  York  abounds  certainly  more  in 
riches  than  any  other  of  the  Northern  Colonies,  yet 
there  has  been  less  care  to  propagate  Knowledge  or 

3H 


Amusements 


Learning  in  it  than  anywhere  else.  The  only  prin- 
ciple of  Life  propagated  among  the  young  People  is 
to  get  Money,  and  Men  are  only  esteemed  according 
to  what  they  are  worth, — that  is,  the  Money  they  are 
possessed  of.” 

Three  dresses  of  the  period  are  shown  on  pages 
302,  305  and  307 ; the  first  belonged  to  Angelica 
Schuyler ; the  second  to  Susannah  de  Lancey,  and 
the  third  to  Judith  Crommelin  Ver  Planck.  They 
are  worn  by  lineal  descendants  of  the  original  owners. 
A locket  of  the  period  appears  on  page  309,  painted 
with  a figure  of  Ceres.  This  was  a gift  in  England 
from  John  Austen  to  Martha  Colgate  and  is  now 
owned  by  their  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Martha  Colgate 
Singleton.  The  chairs  on  page  314  show  the  Chinese 
taste  of  the  day  as  applied  by  Chippendale. 


3i5 


SHOWS  AND  EXHIBITIONS 


Marionettes,  puppet-shows  and  waxworks  were 
extremely  popular.  New  exhibitions  of  this  character 
were  constantly  being  imported.  Posture-makers, 
tumblers,  acrobats,  conjurers  and  rope-walkers  not 
unfrequently  appeared  with  these  shows.  Occasion- 
ally, the  “artists”  of  the  latter  class,  as  they  called 
themselves,  considered  themselves  of  sufficient  impor- 
tance to  perform  alone.  In  1734,  for  instance,  “is 
to  be  seen  the  famous  German  artist  who  is  to  per- 
form the  wonders  of  the  world  by  dexterity  of  hand. 
The  things  he  performs  are  too  numerous  to  be 
enumerated  here.”  We  gain  a good  idea  of  these 
curious  shows  from  the  managers’  own  accounts,  in 
1 747  and  1 749  : 

“ To  be  seen  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hamilton  Hewetson  at 
the  Sign  of  the  Spread  Eagle,  near  White-Hall  Slip,  Punch’s 
Opera,  Bateman  or  the  Unhappy  Marriage,  with  a fine  Dialogue 
between  Punch  and  his  wife  Joan.  Acted  by  a set  of  lively 
figures  from  Philadelphia.  Also  a most  curious  Posture-Maker 
Boy,  late  from  Dublin,  who  performs  with  the  utmost  Dex- 
terity, most  surprising  Postures,  transforming  himself  into  a 
great  number  of  various  Shapes,  together  with  a great  Variety 
of  Tumbling,  exceeding  pleasant  and  diverting;  and  many 
other  curiosities  too  tedious  to  mention.” 

“To  be  seen  at  a large  theatrical  room  next  to  the  Sign  of 
the  Dolphin  (built  on  purpose)  near  the  workhouse,  for  the 
entertainment  of  gentlemen,  ladies  and  others  to-morrow  even- 


6 


Amusements 


in g and  to  continue  with  different  plays  every  week,  Punch’s 
company  of  comedians.” 

“ This  is  to  acquaint  the  curious  that  the  effigies  of  the 
Royal  Family  and  that  of  the  Queen  of  Hungary — and  other 
curiosities  in  wax  are  to  be  seen  (from  7 a.  m.  to  6 p.  m.)  and  as 
the  stay  of  the  said  curiosities  will  be  but  a few  days  in  town 
the  price  is  reduced  to  1/6  for  each  person.  N.  B.  None  to  be 
admitted  without  present  pay.” 

In  1753,  a woman  was  attracting  attention.  In- 
teresting as  Mr.  Dugee’s  feats  were,  the  “ Female 
Samson  ” must  have  created  the  most  enthusiasm. 
The  Dugees  explained  their  performance  as  follows  : 

“ (By  Permission)  Will  be  exhibited  by  Anthony  Jacob 
Dugee,  the  young  Indian,  and  little  negro  boy  the  accustomed 
surprising  and  entertaining  performances  on  the  stiff  rope  and 
slack  wire  (scarcely  perceptible)  together  with  the  usual  equili- 
bries  on  the  chairs  and  pins,  as  well  by  the  black  as  the  In- 
dian boy.  After  which  the  company  will  be  agreeably  enter- 
tained with  the  wonderful  feats  of  strength  and  activity  of 
Mrs.  Dugee  which  has  given  so  much  satisfaction  to  H.  R.  H. 
the  Princess  Dowager  of  Wales  and  the  Royal  Family  of  Great 
Britain  that  they  were  pleased  to  call  her  The  Female  Samson. 
I.  She  lies  with  her  body  extended  between  two  chairs  and 
bears  an  anvil  of  300  lb.  on  her  breast,  and  will  suffer  two  men 
to  strike  it  with  sledge  hammers.  II.  She  will  bear  six  men  to 
stand  on  her  breast  lying  in  the  same  position.  III.  She  will 
lift  the  above  anvil  by  the  hair  of  her  head.  IV.  She  will 

suffer  a stone  of  700  lb.  to  lye  on  her  breast  and  throw  it  off 
six  feet  from  her.  In  particular,  Mr.  Dugee  will  dance  the 
stiff-rope  with  iron  fetters  on  his  feet.  The  whole  to  conclude 
with  a dance  called  the  Drunken  Peasant.” 

No  show,  however,  in  the  middle  of  the  century 
could  compare  with  the  Tragedy  of  Young  Bateman. 
It  was  thrilling.  In  1756,  we  read  : 

“ Now  to  be  seen  by  the  curious,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Adam 
Vandenbergh  in  the  Broadway,  a curious  musical  machine 


3W 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


which  represents  the  tragedy  of  Bateman,  viz.  First,  two  fold- 
ing doors  fly  open,  a curtain  draws  itself  up,  and  exhibits  a 
company  of  gentlemen  and  ladies,  with  knives  and  forks  in 

motion,  sat  down  to  a wedding  dinner. 
The  bride  having  promised  marriage 
to  young  Bateman,  proving  false  and 
marrying  old  Jermain.  Bateman  hangs 
himself  on  her  wedding-day.  Four 
cupids  fly  down  and  carry  Bateman 
away.  The  bride  still  enjoying  her- 
self at  dinner,  she  at  last  falls  from 
the  table  dead ; and  her  rosy  colour 
changes  to  a deadly  paleness.  After 
which,  the  Devil  comes  up,  and  carries 
her  away.  Here  the  curtain  falls,  and 
ends  the  first  Act.  The  curtain  draw- 
ing up  a second  time,  instead  of  the 
wedding  exhibits  young  Bateman  laid 
in  state,  with  the  mourners  about  him, 
dressed  in  black  coats  and  white  hatbands;  the  room  hung  with 
escutcheons,  and  six  ringers,  in  their  shirts,  ringing  the  bells. 
The  representation  of  a carpenter’s  yard,  with  people  at  work, 
with  several  other  moving  figures.” 

About  the  middle  of  the  century,  there  was  ex- 
hibited a splendid  collection  of  waxworks  which  met 
with  an  unfortunate  accident.  The  sad  calamity  is 
thus  described  : 

“ On  Monday  evening  about  six  o’clock  a fire  was  discov- 
ered in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Wright,  the  ingenious  artist  in  wax- 
works,  and  proprietor  of  the  figures  so  nearly  resembling  the 
life  which  have  for  some  time  past  been  exhibited  in  this  city 
to  general  satisfaction.  The  accident  happened  when  Mrs. 
Wright  was  abroad,  and  only  children  at  home ; and  was  occa- 
sioned by  one  of  them  accidentally  setting  fire  to  a curtain 
inclosing  some  of  the  figures.  The  child  for  some  time  in  vain 
endeavoured  to  extinguish  the  fire,  which  was  soon  committed 

318 


Mahogany  table,  originally 
owned  by  Captain  Dan- 
iel Cox  ; now  by  Wil- 
mot  Townsend  Cox, 
Esq. 


Amusements 


to  the  clothes  of  the  figures  and  the  wax  of  which  they  were 
composed.  The  neighbours  immediately  assembled  and  with 
the  greatest  care  and  expedition  gave  all  possible  assistance 
and  preserving  the  household  goods;  the  fire-engines  played 
into  the  house,  but  tho’  most  of  the  waxwork  was  destroyed 
(together  with  some  new  pieces  which  Mrs.  Wells,  sister  to 
Mrs.  Wright,  had  lately  brought  from  Charlestown,  the  whole 
amounting  it  is  said  to  the  value  of  several  hundred  pounds) 
yet  she  was  so  fortunate  as  to  save  the  curious  pieces  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,  the  Pennsylvania  Farmer,  and  some  others, 
which  she  still  continues  to  exhibit;  and  we  hear  she  proposes 
to  repair  the  loss  sustained  by  this  fire  as  soon  as  possible,  by 
making  some  new  and  curious  pieces.” 


Two  months  later,  the  damage  was  repaired,  the 
new  pieces  being  the  murder  of  Abel  by  Cain,  and 
the  treachery  of  Delilah  to  Samson.  In  1767,  an  ex- 
hibition for  the  Benefit  of  the  Poor  was  held.  44  In 
a commodious  room,  which  is  now  fitted  up  in  theatri- 
cal manner,  for  the  accommodation  of  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, at  the  Sign  of  the  Orange  Tree  on  Golden 
Hill,  will  be  presented  the  noted  Bayly’s  performances 
by  Dexterity  of  Hand,  with  a variety  of  curious  Bal- 
ances by  the  noted  Hymes,  lately  arrived  from  Sad- 
dlers Wells  ; with  the  facetious  humours  of  Mr.  Punch, 
his  family,  and  company  of  artificial  comedians  three 
feet  high  ; a view  of  the  sea  with  ships,  mermaids, 
fish,  sea-monsters,  etc.,  which  is  allowed  the  most 
natural  curiosity  of  the  kind  ever  seen  ; and  a court 
of  twenty-five  figures,  or  an  assembly  of  maids  and 
bachelors.” 

In  addition  to  waxworks  and  other  artificial  fig- 
ures, there  was  great  interest  in  living  monsters  and 
curiosities.  Animals  familiar  enough  to  us  seem 

3i9 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

to  have  excited  the  public  considerably.  These  were 
shown  in  private  houses  and  taverns.  In  1749, 

“We  hear  that  Mr.  Bonnin  has  got  one  of  the  greatest 
curiosities  in  nature.  This  wonderful  phenomenon  is  beyond 
our  power  to  describe  as  fully  as  to  communicate  an  adequate 
idea  of  it.  It  is  a crab  fish,  with  most  of  its  shell  on  both 
sides,  preserved  in  its  natural  colour,  and  the  spawn  is  petrified 
into  a hard  stone.” 

This,  however,  paled  before  the  next  exhibit  which 
was  offered  in  1751: 

“To  be  seen  at  the  House  of  John  Bonnin  next  door  to 
Mr.  Peter  Brower’s  near  the  new  Dutch  Church  a curious  live 
Porcupine  of  various  colours ; a creature  arm’d  with  Darts, 
which  resemble  Writing  Pens,  tho’  of  different  Colours,  and 
which  he  shoots  at  any  Adversary  with  ease  when  angry  or 
attack’d  tho’  otherwise  qf  great  good  Humour  and  Gentleness. 
He  will  eat  in  the  Presence  of  any  Person,  and  is  justly  Es- 
teemed a great  Rarity  in  these  Parts.” 

The  obliging  and  altogether  admirable  porcupine 
had  a rival  for  popular  favour  in  the  same  year : 

“ Be  seen  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Edward  Willet  at  White 
Hall  a Creature  called  a Japanese  of  about  2 Feet  high,  his 
Body  resembling  a human  Body  in  all  parts  except  the  feet  and 
tail : He  walks  upright  and  performs  various  Actions  to  Ad- 

miration such  as  walking  upon  a Line,  hanging  and  swinging 
under  it,  exercising  the  Firelock,  dances  to  any  Tune  and  Sun- 
dry other  Things  too  tedious  to  mention.  The  Sense  and 
Agility  of  this  Creature  renders  him  worthy  the  Observation  of 
the  Curious.” 

In  1754,  there  was  “To  be  seen  at  the  house  of 
Roger  Magrah,  a Living  Allegator,  full  four  feet 
long.”  In  1755,  “ Capt.  Seymour  in  the  ship,  Fame , 
has  brought  in  with  him  a young  lioness  of  about  two 

320 


Amusements 


foot  high.  He  likewise  had  on  board  two  ostriches 
which  we  are  told  he  brought  from  the  African  coast, 
being  fowls  of  that  country,  but  they  both  died  on 
the  passage.”  In  1759,  a buffalo  and  “a  wild  animal 


Painted  and  japanned  tray  and  plated  soup-tureen,  castors  and  cake-basket. 
See  pages  113  and  165. 

lately  from  the  Mississippi”  and  in  1769,  we  read  “a 
Tyger  to  be  seen  at  the  King’s  Arm’s  Tavern  on  the 
Green.  Price  6d.  ’Tis  a very  beautiful  animal.” 
Again  it  was  announced  : 

In  1773,  “The  wonderful  electrical  fish  is  exhibited  at  the 
house  of  John  Rawdon,  hairdresser,  in  Broad  St.  ; also  at  Mr. 


22 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Allen’s  stables,  near  the  Fly  Market,  a remarkable  fine  young- 
elk.  The  fish  has  never  (that  we  know  of)  been  seen  in  the 
northern  parts  of  America  or  Europe.  Those  who  choose  to 
gratify  their  curiosity  by  viewing  this  very  extraordinary  pro- 
duction of  nature,  at  the  small  expense  of  two  shillings  each, 
are  desired  to  attend  speedily.”  The  elk  would  receive  visitors 
at  6d.  for  a grown  person,  and  3d.  for  a child. 

For  several  years,  Mr.  Bonnin  gave  English  pros- 
pects or  views.  On  Dec.  12th  he  advertised  “ the  first 
eight  English  prospects  and  next  week  the  other 
eight,  which  are  all  that  he  has  as  yet  shown.”  On 
Jan.  7,  1749,  he  promised  that  he  would  show  seven 
English  cathedrals ; and  on  the  same  day,  he  an- 
nounced : 

“ The  great  wager  depending  between  some  English  and 
French  gentlemen  of  this  city,  viz.,  whether  the  English  palaces,, 
gardens,  etc.,  or  the  French  ones,  are  the  finest  and  most  mag- 
nificent, is  to  be  decided  at  Mr.  Bonnin’s  room  to-morrow  if  it 
proves  good  weather  by  a jury  of  twelve  men  who  were  never 
in  Europe.  This  week  twelve  views  of  Venice  not  on  the 
canals;  next  week  twelve  on  the  canals.”  The  following  week 
he  gives  twelve  ships  of  all  sizes  in  all  stations  of  weather 
“and  also  prospects  of  Rome  and  Naples.” 

He  understood  the  art  of  advertising.  In  1748, 
the  following  was  printed  : 

“ We  hear  that  Mr.  Bonnin  is  so  crowded  with  company  to 
view  his  perspectives  that  he  can  scarce  get  even  so  much  time 
as  to  eat,  drink,  or  say  his  prayers,  from  the  time  he  gets  out 
of  bed  till  he  repairs  to  it  again;  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  some 
able  physician  that  if  he  makes  rich,  it  must  be  at  the  expense 
of  the  health  of  his  body;  and  of  some  learned  divines,  that 
it  must  be  at  the  expense  of  the  welfare  of  his  poor  soul  l 
Nay,  his  own  old  shipmates,  who  went  a privateering  with  him,, 
swear  he  would  have  stood  a better  chance  for  a fair  wind  to 
the  haven  of  rest,  and  would  have  come  to  port  with  more 

322 


Amusements 


safety  had  he  continued  still  aboard  ! They  are  a sett  of  sad 
dogs  to  talk  so  profanely  of  such  a subject.” 

A few  weeks  later,  the  papers  announced  : 

“ Mr.  Bonnin  intended  to  go  to-day  to  Long  Island,  but 
the  people  of  all  ranks  and  ages  crowded  to  see  him  in  such 
numbers  all  the  week,  which  encouragement,  together  with  the 
cries,  tears  and  prayers  of  the  populace,  as  he  passes  along  the 
streets,  to  continue  another  week  longer  in  town,  have  at  last 
prevailed  upon  him  to  defer  his  removal  till  next  week.” 

“ It  has  now  become  the  daily  custom  of  our  ladies  of  dis- 
tinction to  ask  their  husbands  and  sweethearts  to  treat  them 
to  a walk  to  Kensington,  Hampton  Court,  Yaux  Hall,  Rane- 
lagh  House  and  other  grand  palaces  and  gardens  in  and  about 
London,  as  naturally  as  if  they  lived  by  the  Royal  Exchange 
or  St.  Paul’s;  and,  as  in  good  weather  they  used  to  do,  to  treat 
them  with  a jaunt  to  Long  Island  or  King’s  Bridge.  To  en- 
force their  arguments,  they  insist  upon  it  that  there  is  less 
danger  and  expence  in  visiting  the  former  than  the  latter  place, 
and  abundance  more  pleasure  and  instruction.  In  short,  there’s 
nobody  can  set  up  the  least  face  for  politeness  and  conversa- 
tion without  having  been  with  Mr.  Bonnin  ; and  embellishing 
their  discourses  with  making  judicious  and  elaborate  observa- 
tions and  criticisms  on  this,  that,  and  the  other  building,  im- 
provement, or  dress.  So  that  instead  of  our  travellers  enter- 
taining the  ladies  with  their  feigned  and  confused  accounts  of 
the  fine  palaces  they  have  seen  in  England,  the  case  is  quite 
altered;  for  the  ladies  correct  and  often  detect  their  false  pre- 
tended description,  and  entertain  them  with  a just,  beautiful 
and  regular  one.” 

Anything  of  the  description  of  a panorama,  dis- 
solving views  (particularly  those  that  showed  foreign 
buildings  and  scenery),  musical  clocks,  or  microscopes 
always  attracted  an  audience.  Frequently,  too,  the 
men  who  owned  such  devices  were  bidden  to  exhibit 
their  pictures  in  private  houses,  and  if  the  apparatus 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


could  not  be  removed,  for  a consideration  the  views 
were  shown  to  a private  audience  at  any  hour  that 
such  exclusive  ladies  and  gentlemen  desired.  What 
was  evidently  a diorama  was  shown  in  1747  : 


“ At  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Hays  at  the  sign  of  St.  An- 
drew’s Cross,  near  the  Fly  Market,  is  to  be  seen  a large  moving 
machine  or  land  and  water  skip,  representing  many 
things  moving  nearly  imitating  nature.  N.  B.  If 
any  gentlemen  or  ladies  hath  a mind  to 
have  private  view  of  the  same,  they  may, 
by  giving  two  hours’  warning  before- 
hand.” 

An  exhibit  that  created  some- 
thing more  than  a ripple  of 
excitement  in  the  town  in 
1756  was  heralded  in  the  fol- 
lowing notice:  “That  cele- 
brated piece  of  mechanism, 
called  the  Microcosm  or 
World  in  Miniature , is  ex- 
pected in  town  this  day  from 
Philadelphia.  ” Everybody 
went  to  see  it.  A poetical 
description  of  it  by  an  enthusi- 
astic admirer  alone  filled  two  col- 
umns of  a newspaper. 

In  1763,  the  “Miniature  city 
of  Malaga  ” was  shown  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Provoost,  gunsmith, 
at  the  price  of  one  shilling  ; and  in  1 764,  the  town  had 
the  advantage  of  seeing  “Jerusalem,  a view  of  that 
famous  city,  after  a work  of  seven  years.”  This  “rep- 

324 


Mahogany  and  gilded  mir- 
ror, originally  owned 
by  Rutger  Bleecker,  of 
Albany  ; now  by  Mrs. 
Wilmot  T.  Cox.  See 
page  98. 


Amusements 


resents  Jerusalem,  the  Temple  of  Solomon,  his  Royal 
Throne,  the  noted  Houses,  Towers  and  Hills  ; likewise 
the  Sufferings  of  our  Saviour  from  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane  to  the  Cross  on  the  Hill  of  Golgotha  ; an 
artful  piece  of  statuary,  in  which  everything  is  exhib- 
ited in  the  most  natural  manner  and  worthy  to  be 
seen  by  the  curious.”  In  1774  mechanical  shows  are 
offered.  The  first  is  : 

“ The  unparallel’d  Musical  Clock,  made  by  the  great  master 
of  Machinery  David  Lockwood.  This  great  curiosity  performs 
by  Springs  only;  it  is  a machine  incomparable  in  its  kind;  it 
excells  all  others  in  the  Beauty  of  its  Structure;  it  is  most 
entertaining  in  its  Music,  and  plays  the  choicest  Airs  from  the 
celebrated  Operas  with  the  greatest  Nicety  and  Exactness.  It 
performs  with  beautiful  Graces,  ingeniously  and  variously  in- 
termix’d, the  French  Horn  Pieces,  perform’d  upon  the  Organ, 
German  and  Common  Flute,  Flageolet,  etc.,  as  Sonatas,  Con- 
certas,  Marches,  Minuets,  Jiggs,  and  Scotch  Airs,  composed  by 
Corelli,  Alberoni,  Mr.  Handel,  and  other  great  and  eminent 
Masters  of  Music.” 

The  second  is  thus  described  : 

“ By  desire  of  several  Gentlemen  and  Ladies,  The  Solar  or 
Camera  Obscura  Microscope  which  has  given  such  general  sat- 
isfaction, and  so  great  a Concourse  of  Gentlemen  and  Ladies 
continually  attend  to  see  it,  is  now  removed  to  the  House  of 
Mr.  John  Kip  in  Broad  Street,  where  the  Sun  will  serve  all  the 
Day  long. 

“ It  is  the  most  entertaining  of  any  Microscope  whatsoever, 
and  magnifies  objects  to  a most  surprising  Degree.  The  Ani- 
malculae  in  several  Sorts  of  Fluids,  with  many  other  living  and 
dead  Objects  too  tedious  to  mention,  will  be  shown  incredu- 
lously magnified,  and  at  the  same  Time  distinct,  to  the  entire 
Satisfaction  of  the  Spectators:  As  the  circulation  of  the  Blood 
in  a Frog’s  Foot,  a Flea,  a Fish’s  Tail,  and  in  many  small  In- 
sects, that  an  Hundred  of  them  will  not  exceed  the  Bigness 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


of  a grain  of  Sand,  with  their  young  in  them.  This  Curiosity 
was  never  shewn  before  by  any  Person  that  Travels.” 


Humorous  illustrated  lectures  were  also  in  vogue. 

“ Bv  permission  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  Mr.  Wall 
the  comedian  will  exhibit  at  Mr.  Hull’s  great  Room  on  Wed- 
nesday Evening  July  21, 
1773,  a new  lecture  writ- 
ten by  the  author  of  the 
much  admired  Lecture  on 
Heads.  The  Paintings, 
etc.,  are  entirely  new  and 
never  before  exhibited  in 
America.”  It  seems 
that  this  was  a sort 
of  stereopticon,  or 
magic  lantern  ex- 
hibition accompa- 
nied with  the  usual 
entertaining  and 
explanatory  com- 
ments. It  was  in 
three  parts  and  the 
excessive  head  dresses 
Mahogany  card  table,  owned  by  Mrs.  of  the  day  were  held  up 
Edward  Parke  Custis  Lewis.  See  to  ridicule.  In  the  first 
page  111.  part  one  of  the  topics  was 

“ the  sheep’s  tail  maca- 
roni,” and  this  was  followed  by  the  “ thick  stock  ditto  ” and  the 
“ turn  down  collar.”  Among  the  subjects  of  the  second  part  were  : 
“Ladies  Heads  in  HighTaste,  Men’s  Hats,  Maccaroni  Thanet,and 
Corded  Thanet.”  Part  III.  included  “ Ladies  High  Head  Dresses ; 
Artificial  Candle  Light  Face  and  the  appearance  of  the  same  Face 
the  next  morning ; the  Grand  Secret  of  Attraction,  Two  Portraits 
of  the  Same  Lady  in  a good  and  ill  Humour ; Courtship  and  Matri- 
mony ; Matrimonial  Vis-a-vis ; and  Complete  Macaroni.”  The 
price  of  each  ticket  was  five  shillings.  The  managers  assured 
the  public  that  “ Care  will  be  taken  to  keep  the  Room  cool.” 

326 


PART  VII 

MANNERS,  FOOD  AND  CULTURE 


PART  VII 


MANNERS,  FOOD  AND  CULTURE 


I 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Both  men  and  women  of  the  upper  classes  were 
not  only  well  educated,  but  were  expected  to  have 
accomplishments.  New  York  was  rich  in  private 
schools  and  competent  teachers.  In  the  schools, 
mathematics,  Greek,  Latin,  and  modern  languages 
received  much  attention,  and  it  was  usually  the  cus- 
tom for  the  wives  of  school-masters  to  hold  classes 
for  young  ladies,  especially  to  instruct  them  in  plain 


Embroidery  of  the  period  in  the  Museum  of  the  New  York  Colonial 
Dames.  See  page  334. 


and  fancy  needlework  and  embroidery.  A very  good 
idea  of  the  ordinary  school  course  is  found  as  early  as 
1731,  when  “at  the  House  of  George  Brownell  near 
the  Custom-House,  are  taught  Reading,  Writing, 
Cyphering,  Merchants  Accompts,  Latin,  Greek,  etc., 

329 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

also  Dancing,  Plain- Work,  Flourishing,  Imbroidery 
and  various  sorts  of  works.  Any  persons  may  be 
taught  as  private  as  they  please.”  Languages  were 
of  the  utmost  importance,  as  will  be  proved  by  the 
following  advertisements  : 

o 

“ This  is  to  give  notice  that  over  against  the  Sign  of  the 
Black  Horse,  in  Smith  Street,  near  the  Old  Dutch  Church,  is 
carefully  taught  the  French  and  Spanish  Languages  after  the 
best  method  that  is  now  practized  in  Great  Britain.”  ( 1 7 35 • ) 
The  terms  were  twenty  shillings  the  quarter. 

“ John  William  Delisle  wants  to  teach  French  to  Ladies 
and  Gentlemen  at  one  pistole  per  month  and  six  shillings  en- 
trance.” He  naively  adds  : “ I hope  I shall  repair  the  character 
of  those  that  are  gone  away  with  the  public’s  money.”  (1749). 

“Anthony  Fiva  has  taught  English,  French,  Spanish  and 
Italian  for  these  two  years  past.”  (1744.) 

New  Yorkers  were  always  abreast  of  the  latest 
European  steps  and  dances.  W.  C.  Hulett  was  as 
accomplished  a dancer  and  dancing-master  as  he  was 
a violinist,  and  taught  both  music  and  dancing.  (See 
page  295).  In  1753,  he  taught  dancing  and  adver- 
tised himself  as  “ late  apprentice  to  Mr.  Grenier  of 
London,  dancing-master.”  His  success  justified  him 
in  opening  a Dancing-School  in  1 764.  This  was 
situated  in  French  Church  Street,  near  the  Assembly 
Room.  In  1775,  he  was  still  a fashionable  master, 
keeping  up  with  the  newest  dances,  teaching  “ accord- 
ing to  the  present  taste  both  in  London  and  Paris,” 
the  following  : “ The  Louvre  ; the  Minuet  ; Dauphine  ; 
Rigadoon  ; Bretagne  ; Allemando  ; Double  Minuet  ; 
Minuet  by  eight;  Hornpipes;  and  the  Cotillons  and 
English  Country-Dances.”  His  chief  rival  at  this 
time  was  Pietro  Sodi,  who  had  established  with  Biferi 


330 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

and  Cozani  an  academy  for  music,  dancing  and  lan- 
guages. 

There  were  a number  of  other  dancing-masters 
and  schools  ; in  many  of  the  latter  fencing  was  taught. 
Mr.  Hulett  began  this  fashion.  Among  the  other 
dancing-masters  were  : John  Rivers,  who  opened  a 
dancing  and  fencing  school  in  Stone  Street  in  175  7, 
and  kept  “a  public  dance  Monday  evenings  ” ; Wil- 
liam Turner,  who  had  a dancing  and  fencing  school 
over  the  Royal  Exchange  in  1 764  ; Du  Poke  and  De 
St,  Pry,  who  opened  a French,  Fencing  and  Dancing 
Academy  in  Fittle  Dock  Street  in  1775,  where  they 
taught  “ French  jigs,  hornpipes,  cotillons,  German 
dances  and  French  country  dances  of  all  kinds  in  the 
most  approved  and  modern  taste”;  and  William 
Tetley,  whom  we  find  in  1775,  announcing  that  “he 
served  an  apprenticeship  under  Mons.  Gherarde,  of 
Fondon.”  He  also  “ paints  oil  and  miniature  por- 
traits, and  teaches  drawing.” 

To  be  a graceful  and  skillful  fencer  was  the  ambi- 
tion of  every  gentleman.  Swords  were  worn  and 
whipped  from  their  scabbards  at  the  slightest  provo- 
cation. It  was  therefore  necessary  to  understand  the 
art  of  defence.  Fencing  was — and  properly — consid- 
ered one  of  the  best  aids  to  a graceful  carriage,  ease 
of  movement,  and  courtly  manners.  Gentlemen  could 
take  their  lessons  in  the  academies,  or  the  teachers 
would  wait  upon  them  at  their  houses.  One  of  the 
best  fencing-masters  thus  drew  attention  to  himself  : 

“ These  are  to  give  notice  to  all  gentlemen  who  desire  to 
learn  the  right  Method  and  true  Art  of  Defence  and  pursuit  of 
the  small  sword  in  its  greatest  Perfection,  and  extraordinary 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

quick  and  speedy  with  all  the  guard,  Parades,  Mounts  and  les- 
sons thereto  belonging,  fully  described,  and  the  best  Rule  for 
Playing  against  Artists  or  Others  with  Blunts  or  Sharps;  that 
they  may  be  taught  the  same  by  me  Richard  Lyneall,  Professor 
and  Master  of  the  said  Art,  who  is  to  be  spoke  with  at  the 
House  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Parmyster  in  Beaver  St.  Note,  he 
teaches  gentlemen  either  in  Private  or  Publick  by  the  month 
or  by  the  whole.”  (1756). 

A very  accomplished  fencer  was  Peter  Viany  who 
attained  fashionable  patronage.  He  lived  near  the 
Exchange  and  also  taught  dancing.  He  informed 
the  public  that  “ he  has  no  dancing-room,  but  will 
teach  privately  at  their  homes  the  Minuet  to  ladies 
and  gentlemen  in  two  months’  time.”  In  1769,  he 
was  still  a fashionable  teacher  of  both  accomplish- 
ments, which  is  not  astonishing,  as  he  assured  his 
patrons  that  “ he  teaches  in  the  style  of  the  best 
masters  in  Europe  and  their  manner  is  discoverable 
in  his  scholars.”  A sword  of  the  period  is  shown  on 
page  263. 

Painting  was  also  an  accomplishment.  There  was 
a Society  for  Promoting  Arts,  and  every  encourage- 
ment was  given  to  artists  of  the  brush  and  pencil. 
Drawing  and  painting  were  taught  in  the  schools  and 
teachers  gave  private  lessons.  A portrait-painter  came 
to  New  York  in  1754,  and  thus  announced  himself  : 

“Lawrence  Kilburn,  Limner,  just  arrived  from  London  ac- 
quaints all  gentlemen  and  ladies  inclined  to  favour  him  in 
having  their  pictures  drawn,  that  he  dont  doubt  of  pleasing 
them  in  taking  a true  likeness  and  finishing  the  drapery  in 
a proper  manner,  as  also  in  the  choice  of  attitudes  suitable 
to  each  person’s  age  and  sex  and  giving  agreeable  satis- 
faction, as  he  has  heretofore  done  to  gentlemen  and  ladies  in 
London.” 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 

He  succeeded  by  means  of  his  portraits  and  les- 
sons, for  in  1765  he  says:  “At  present  there  is  no 
other  portrait-painter  in  this  city  but  himself.”  A rival 
portrait-painter  was  Abraham  Delanoy  who  lived  in 
New  Dutch  Church  Street.  In  1768,  we  read  that 


Sampler  owned  by  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Fairchild.  See  page  334. 

John  Durand  has  “from  his  infancy  endeavoured  to 
qualify  himself  in  the  art  of  historical  painting”  and 
“humbly  hopes  for  that  encouragement  from  the 
gentlemen  and  ladies  of  this  city  and  province  that 
so  elegant  and  entertaining  an  art  has  always  ob- 
tained from  people  of  the  most  improved  minds.” 
Painting  on  glass  was  a favourite  art  dating  from 
the  early  part  of  the  century.  In  1745,  Gerardus 
Duyckinck  taught  “ any  young  Gentlemen  the  Art  of 
Drawing  with  Painting  on  Glass”;  and,  in  1753,  we 
learn  that  “ By  a person  lately  arrived  in  this  Town, 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Painting  upon  Glass  (commonly  called  burning  upon 
glass)  is  performed  in  a neat  and  curious  manner  so  as 
never  to  change  its  colour.  Perspective  views  neatly 
coloured  for  the  Camera  Obscura.” 

The  ladies  of  our  period  were  as  accomplished  in 
needlework  as  in  cookery.  Plain  and  fancy  sewing 
was  always  a part  of  a gentlewoman’s  education.  An 
idea  of  what  was  taught  in  a school  especially  for 
young  ladies  was  shown  in  1747,  when  “in  the  back 
part  of  Mr.  Benson’s  Brew-House  a school  is  opened 
to  teach  young  Ladies  Reading  and  Writing,  all  sorts 
of  Needlework  and  the  making  of  Artificial  Flowers.” 
Every  girl  was  required  to  work  a sampler.  Speci- 
mens, owned  by  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Fairchild,  appear  on 
pages  333  and  340.  Ladies  made  many  articles  for 
their  homes  and  many  of  the  pretty  things  they  wore. 
There  were  a great  number  of  teachers.  In  1731, 

“ Martha  Gazley  late  from  Great  Britain,  now  in  the  City 
of  New  York,  Makes  and  Teacheth  the  following  Curious 
Works,  viz,  Artificial  Fruit  and  Flowers,  and  other  Wax-Work, 
Nuns-Work,  Philligree  and  Pencil  Work  upon  Muslin,  all  sorts 
of  Needle-Work,  and  Raising  of  Paste,  as  also  to  Paint  upon 
Glass  and  Transparant  for  Sconces,  with  other  works.  If  any 
young  Gentlewomen,  or  others  are  inclined  to  learn  any  or  all 
of  the  above-mentioned  curious  Works,  they  may  be  carefully 
taught  and  instructed  in  the  same.” 

In  1765,  Mrs.  Thomas  Carroll,  whose  husband  had 
a “ mathematical  school  ” in  Broad  Street,  taught 
“Young  Ladies  plain  work,  samplars,  French  quilt- 
ing, knoting  for  Bed  Quilts  or  Toilets,  Dresden  flow- 
ering on  Catgut,  shading  with  silk  on  worsted  or 
Cambrick,  Lawn  or  Holland.”  A specimen  of  what 
she  was  able  to  teach  appears  on  page  329. 

334 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


In  1769,  Clementina  and  Jane  Fergusson  taught 
“ plain  needlework,  sampler,  crowning,  Dresden  catgut, 
shading  in  silk  on  Holland  or  cambrick  and  in  silk  or 
worsted  on  canvas,  as  also  all  sorts  of  needlework  in 
use  for  dress  or  furniture.”  In  1773,  Mrs.  Cole  and 
William  and  Sarah  Long,  all  from  London,  were  teach- 
ing  tambour  work  in  gold  and  silver  and  embroidery ; 
and  in  the  next  year  Mrs.  Belton  was  giving  lessons  in 
“tapestry,  embroidery,  catgut,  sprigging  of  muslin,  etc.” 
On  page  273  is  shown  a small  letter-case  embroid- 
ered in  green  and  red  silk  bv  one  of  the  ladies  of  the 
day,  Mrs.  Cornelia  Haring  Jones,  who  put  the  date 
1768  upon  it.  It  is  owned  by  her  great -great -grand- 
daughter, Mrs.  French  Ensor  Chadwick.  Another 
card-  or  letter-case  is  shown  on  page  263. 

Sewing  was  made  attractive.  The  work-boxes  of 
the  period  were  very  beautifully  made  and  fitted  up 
with  compartments  and  furnished  with  pretty  ivory, 
steel,  silver  and  gold  implements  of  every  kind.  On 
page  388  some  sewing  articles  are  shown,  a set  of  five 
pieces  made  of  steel,  ornamented  with  gold  and  silver  ; 
a stand  with  three  reels  for  winding  silk  upon,  and 
two  “ sewing-birds  ” with  clamps  to  fasten  them  on 
the  table.  These  stand  upon  a table  after  a design 
by  J.  C.  Delafosse.  Upon  the  table  are  also  placed  a 
Yernis  Martin  box  with  “ Chinoiserie  ” decoration,  a 
silver  punch-ladle  with  ebony  handle,  and  a pair  of 
candlesticks.  These  are  in  the  Museum,  Cooper  U nion. 

The  needlework  of  the  New  York  ladies  was  thus 
very  delicate  and  beautiful  : they  were  not  accus- 
tomed to  do  any  coarse  work  that  would  roughen 
their  hands  and  fatigue  their  bodies.  The  high-heeled 

o o 

335 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

shoe  of  the  aristocratic  and  wealthy  woman  was  accus- 
tomed to  the  pedal  of  the  harpsichord,  but  had  slight 
acquaintance  with  the  spinning-wheel,  and  her  hands 
that  could  sprig  muslin  or  embroider  catgut  gauze  in 
gold  and  silver  had  little  knowledge  of  how  to  use  the 
distaff.  It  seems  that  the  spinning-wheel  was  practi- 
cally unknown  to  the  ladies  of  New  York,  who  were 
quite  satisfied  to  let  it  keep  its  proper  place.  The 
date  of  the  following  item  is  i 769  : 

“Three  young  Ladies  at  Huntington  on  Long  Island, 
namely  Ermina,  Leticia  and  Sabina,  having  met  together, 

agreed  to  try  their  Dexterity  at  the 
Spinning-Wheel ; accordingly  the  next 
morning  they  sit  themselves  down, 
and  like  the  Virtuous  Woman,  put 
their  Hands  to  the  Spindle  and  held 
the  Distaff;  at  Evening  they  had  26 
Skeins  of  good  Linen  Yarn  each  Skin 
containing  4 ounces,  all  which  were 
the  effects  of  that  Day’s  Work  only. 

“ N.  B.  It  is  hoped  that  the  Ladies 
of  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  who 
have  shown  their  skill  and  Industry  at 
the  spinning-wheel,  will  be  sincerely 
pleased  to  find  their  laudable  example 
so  well  imitated  in  Huntington,  and 
that  it  has  kindled  a spirit  of  generous 
Emulation  in  the  Ladies  of  New  York 
Government ; we  hope  the  same  Spirit 
will  spread  thro’  the  Continent.  That 
the  Ladies  while  they  vie  with  each  other  in  Skill  and  Industry 
in  this  profitable  Employment,  may  vie  with  the  men,  in  con- 
tributing to  the  Preservation  and  Prosperity  of  their  Country, 
and  equally  share  the  Honour  of  it.” 

An  old  spinning-wheel  is  reproduced  above. 

33b 


\ 


Spinning-wheel  owned  by 
the  Duane  family  ; now 
by  Mrs.  Wilmot  Town- 
send Cox. 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 


There  were  many  opportunities  for  reading  and 
buying  books.  In  the  early  part  of  the  century,  Wil- 
liam Bradford,  and  later,  Hugh  Gaine,  Garrat  Noel 
and  James  Rivington,  imported  nearly  everything  that 
was  in  vogue  in  London.  It  is  remarkable  to  see 
how  quickly  the  new  books  arrived  in  New  York. 
Chambers’s  Universal  Dictionary  of  all  Arts  and  Sci- 
ence was  sold  by  William  Bradford  in  1733.  Bibles, 
prayer-books,  dictionaries,  books  on  navigation,  and 
calendars  were  always  kept  in  stock  ; and  the  latest 
sensations,  with  sermons,  novels  and  songs  that  were 
attracting  attention  abroad  were  always  advertised. 

The  kind  of  books  that  we  find  most  frequently 
on  sale  from  1744  to  1751  are  : Bibles,  Psalters,  Testa- 
ments, Primers,  Watts’s  Hymns,  Seaman’s  Kalandars, 
School-books,  iEsop’s  Fables,  The  Pilgrims  Progress , 
Mrs.  Rowe’s  Devout  Exercises , The  Academy  of  Com- 
pliments, Laugh  and  be  Fat , A History  of  Pirates , 
Reynard  the  Fox,  Pamela,  La  Belle  Assembly,  Claris- 
sa, Peregrine  Pickle,  Gay’s  Fables,  La  Fontaine’s  Fa- 
bles, Tom  fones,  Heywood’s  novel,  Abercromby’s  His- 
tory of  Scotland,  The  Spectator,  The  Ladies  Library  (3 
vols.),  A History  of  Birds  (2  vols.),  Voltaire’s  Letters, 
Robinson  Crusoe,  A History  of  Buccaneers,  The  Ara- 
bian Nights  Entertainments  (6  vols.),  Milton’s  Para- 
dise Lost,  Thompson’s  Seasons,  Valentine  and  Orson, 
The  Whole  Duty  of  Man,  etc.,  etc. 

It  would  be  futile  to  continue  the  lists  of  books 
that  were  imported  or  republished  by  the  printers 
and  booksellers  of  New  York,  for  they  include  all  the 
new  English  publications.  The  London  magazines 
came  in  with  every  ship, — and  the  Gentleman's  Maga- 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


zine,  the  Lady  s Magazine,  the  London  Magazine,  Lee 
Belle  Assemblee,  etc.,  etc.,  could  he  purchased  by  those 
who  were  not  special  subscribers.  Children  were  not 
forgotten,  for  we  find  books  imported  for  them,  espe- 
cially at  the  Christmas  season  : “ Pretty  Books  for 
Children;”  “Pretty  Books  for  Little  Masters  and 
Mistresses,”  constantly  appear.  In  1767,  Garrat  Noel 
was  good  enough  to  give  a list  of  juvenile  literature. 
He  informed  readers  that  he  had  “a  very  large  parcel 
of  Mr.  Newberry  s beautiful  Gilt  Picture  books,  for 
the  Entertainment  of  his  old  friends,  the  pretty  Mas- 
ters and  Misses  of  New  York . Among  them  they 
will  find  : The  History  of  Giles  Gingerbread,  Esq. ; 
The  History  of  Goody  Two  Shoes ; Nurse  Truelove  s 
Christmas  Box  and  New  Years  Gift ; The  Easter, 
Whitsuntide  and  Valentines  Gift ; The  Fairing,  or 
Golden  Toy ; The  Little  Lottery  Book ; Be  Merry 
and  Wise;  Master  Tommy  Trapwits ; Jests  and 
Poems  for  Children  Six  Feet  High ; and  Royal 
Primmer.  ” 

It  was  evidently  the  custom  for  many  persons  to 
buy  their  books  in  cheap  covers  and  to  have  them 
bound  to  suit  their  own  taste.  As  early  as  1732,  we 
learn  that  “Joseph  Johnson,  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  Book-binder,  is  now  set  up  Book-binding  for 
himself  as  formerly  and  lives  in  Duke  Street  (com- 
monly called  Bayard’s  Street)  near  the  Old  Slip  Mar- 
ket ; where  all  Persons  in  Town  or  Country,  may 
have  their  books  carefully  and  neatly  new  bound, 
either  Plain  or  Gilt  Reasonable.” 

Persons  who  borrowed  books  were  not  always 
careful  to  return  them.  We  read  in  1748  and  1749  : 


Manners , food  and  Culture 


“ The  she-person  that  has  borrowed  Mr.  Tho.  Brown’s 
works  from  a gentleman  she  is  well  acquainted  with,  is  desired 
to  return  them  speedily.” 

“ The  person  that  so  ingeniously  borrowed  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton’s works  out  of  my  printing  office  is  earnestly  desired  to 
return  them  speedily,  they  being  none  of  my  property.” 

Again,  in  1 763,  some  one  sends  the  following  to 
the  papers  : 

“ Lent  to  some  persons  who  have  too  much  modesty  to 
return  them  unasked — The  first  volume  of  Swift’s  works  of  a 
small  edition.  The  ninth  volume  of  the  Critical  Review.  One 
volume  of  Tristram  Shandy,  and  the  first  part  of  Candid. 
The  owner’s  arms  and  name  in  each,  who  will  be  much  obliged 
to  the  borrowers  for  the  perusal  of  the  above  books  when  they 
have  no  further  use  for  them.” 

There  were  two  good  libraries  in  the  city.  The 
oldest  was  the  Society  Library.  On  Oct.  21,  1754, 
the  following  notice  was  printed  : 

“ Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  proprietors  of  the  New 
York  Society  Library  that  the  books  belonging  to  that  library, 
lately  imported,  are  placed  for  the  present,  by  leave  of  the 
Corporation,  in  their  library  room  in  the  City  Hall;  and  that 
the  same  will  be  open  twice  in  every  week — i.  e.  on  Tuesdays 
and  Fridays  from  the  hours  of  ten  to  twelve,  when  constant 
attendance  will  be  given.  The  terms  established  by  the  trust- 
ees for  the  loan  of  books  to  non-subscribers  are  : to  deposite 
in  the  hands  of  the  librarian  one  third  more  than  the  value  of 
the  book  borrowed,  till  it  shall  be  returned,  and  to  pay  for 
the  use  of  same  when  returned,  as  follows,  viz  : For  a folio 
size,  one  month,  4^.,  for  a quarto  size,  one  month,  2s.,  octavo 
or  lesser  vol.,  one  month,  is.  (one  shilling  per  diem  exceeding 
one  month).” 

Another  circulating  library  owed  its  existence  to 
the  enterprise  of  Garrat  Noel,  the  bookseller,  who 
opened  a library  “ consisting  of  several  thousand  vol- 

339 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

umes”  in  1763,  next  door  to  the  Merchant’s  Coffee 
House.  In  1765,  he  advertised:  “All  persons  that 

choose  to  spend  their  leisure 
in  reading  may  be 
supplied  from  this 
source  of  laudable 
amusement  a whole 
year  at  the  easy  rate 
of  four  dollars.” 

It  may  be  interest- 
ing now  to  read  a 
contemporary  criti- 
cism of  one  of  the 
popular  novels  of  the 
day,  written  without 
any  idea  that  it 
would  be  read  save 
by  the  person  to 
whom  it  was  ad- 
dressed. This  is  con- 
tained in  a letter  dated  June  29,  1743,  and  was 
written  to  his  sister,  Mary  Parker,  by  Elisha  Parker 
(see  pages  302-’3),  who  sent  the  last  two  volumes  of 
Pamela : 

“ They  are  books  that  have  been  generally  well  esteemed 
of  and  read  by  your  part  of  the  world  especially.  I think  ’em 
by  far  the  most  proper  book  of  any  I ever  saw  for  the  youth 
of  both,  but  especially  of  your  sex.  Virtue  is  there  painted  in 
such  lively  and  amiable  colours  with  such  great  rewards 
attending  it  and  the  bad  and  its  consequences  of  a vicious 
course  of  life  so  well  described  that  it  can’t  but  deeply  fix  in 
the  mind  of  an  unprejudiced  reader  a lasting  love  of  the  one 
and  utter  abhorance  of  the  other.  I have  too  good  an  opinion 

340 


Sampler  owned  by  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Fair- 
child.  See  page  334.. 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


of  you  to  think  the  assistance  of  books  is  wanted.  However, 
the  more  virtuously  inclined  the  mind  of  any  person  is,  the 
more  will  it  delight  in  hearing  of  virtue  praised  and  this  with 
the  advantage  that  it  will  be  got  by  reading  a stile  so  beautiful 
and  natural  as  the  stile  of  Pamela 


Effigy  of  Mr.  Rivington,  the  Tory  printer,  hung  in 
New  Brunswick.  (1774.) 


341 


II 


FOOD  FROM  THE  FIELDS  AND  THE  SEA 

In  former  pages,  the  importance  of  kitchen  gar- 
dens and  orchards  has  been  fully  disclosed  in  the  ac- 
counts of  houses  and  estates  for  sale  or  lease.  Fruits 
and  vegetables  were  raised  in  large  quantities  from 
the  earliest,  times.  When  the  Dutch  settled  here, 
they  brought  with  them  their  favourite  salads,  roots, 
greens,  and  fruits.  They  also  found  indigenous  vege- 
tables and  fruits  which  they  gladly  cultivated  and 
cooked.  As  good  beer  could  be  made  here  as  at 
home,  for  wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  and  corn  were 
raised  in  profusion,  while  good  hops  grew  wild  in  the 
woods. 

Wild  fruits  that  the  land  produced  in  great  abun- 
dance included  grapes  of  many  varieties,  mulberries, 
cherries,  currants,  plums,  gooseberries,  medlars,  bil- 
berries, blackberries,  raspberries,  cranberries  and  straw- 
berries in  such  profusion  that  people  lay  down  in  the 
fields  and  gorged  themselves  with  them.  Edible  nuts 
that  enriched  the  sylvan  ways  were  sweet  acorns, 
chestnuts,  beechnuts,  walnuts,  butternuts,  and  hazel- 
nuts. Other  wild  products  of  which  the  settlers 
availed  themselves  were  pignuts,  artichokes,  leeks, 
onions,  peas,  cucumbers,  pumpkins,  melons,  water- 
melons, squash  and  other  gourds. 

The  Dutch  and  English  brought  native  seeds  for 

342 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 

herbs  and  salads.  We  therefore  find  their  gardens 
well  supplied  with  beans,  peas,  turnips,  cabbages, 
parsnips,  carrots,  beets,  endive,  succory,  sorrel,  dill, 
spinach,  radishes,  parsley,  chevril  (or  sweet  cicely), 
cress,  onions,  leeks,  laurel,  artichokes,  asparagus,  rose- 
mary, lavender,  hyssop,  thyme,  sage,  marjoram,  balm  ; 
holy  onions,  wormwood,  belury,  chives,  clary,  pimper- 
nel, dragon’s  blood,  live-finger,  and  tarragon.  The 
pumpkin,  despised  at  home,  was  held  in  high  esteem 
in  New  York  in  very  early  days,  where  the  English 
used  it  for  pies.  They  also  made  a beverage  from  it. 

Gardeners  were  in  demand  for  useful  even  more 
than  ornamental  service.  Advertisements  of  seeds 
by  the  Fort  gardener  and  others  were  common,  and 
•seeds  imported  by  merchants  were  also  often  an- 
nounced. From  these  we  see  what  a great  variety  of 
the  different  herbs,  roots,  and  esculents  were  culti- 
vated. In  March,  1775,  we  find  a long  list  of  seeds 
advertised.  These  consisted  of  many  varieties  of  cab- 
bage, salad,  carrot,  spinach,  turnip,  endive  and  parsley  ; 
besides  Italian  broccoli,  best  Dutch  cauliflower  and 
cucumber ; Zealand,  blood -red,  French  white,  and 
great  Spanish  onions  ; long,  white  and  red  radishes  ; 
“ ramanarse,”  suckerye,  rosemary,  artichokes,  parsnips, 
peppergrass,  caraway,  Winter  leeks,  Summer  do.,  red 
beet,  Dutch  celery,  great  Flemish  do.,  ketchup,  thyme, 
fattacouse  and  several  other  sorts  of  seed.  The  varie- 
ties of  cabbage  seed  were  early  great  Battersea,  flat 
white  Brunswick,  low  brown  head,  Utrecht  head, 
high  brown  curled,  high  green  curled,  fine  blood-red, 
red  head,  early  white,  yellow  Bloom ingdale,  low  green 
curled,  great  Amsterdam  savoy,  and  green  savoy.  The 

343 


Part  of  pictorial  almanac  (1732);  originally  owned  by  Governor  William 
Livingston.  Now  in  the  Museum  of  the  New  York  Colonial  Dames. 

See  pages  346—7. 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

“ salad  ” seeds  were  Swedish,  great  yellow,  large  brown, 
great  Berlin,  small  red,  great  Mogul,  Spanish,  speckled, 
yellow  stone,  small  yellow,  princes,  cut  head,  large 
Amsterdam,  sour,  curled  cut  and  early  cut.  The 
varieties  of  carrot  were  parsley,  long  yellow,  long  red, 
early,  great  yellow,  schonanul  and  sugar  carrot.  The 
kinds  of  spinach  were  broad-leaved,  round,  small,  and 
sour  ; then  there  were  broad-leaved,  curled  and  broad 
curled  endive  ; and  yellow  Dutch,  green,  curled  and 
French  parsley.  The  varieties  of  turnip  included 
yellow,  white,  early,  cabbage,  above-ground,  under- 
ground, long  French  and  white. 

Fruits  were  cultivated  with  equal  assiduity.  The 
best  English  and  Dutch  stocks  were  imported,  and 
when  possible  grafted  on  the  native  trees  to  produce 
new  and  hardy  varieties.  The  consequence  was  that 
in  many  cases  New  York  orchards  lost  nothing  by 
comparison  with  the  best  in  Europe.  The  natural  ad- 
vantages of  soil  and  climate  enabled  the  local  nursery- 
man to  raise  pomology  to  a rare  degree  of  excellence. 
In  1769,  for  example,  William  Prince , of  Flushing, 
had  the  following  varieties  of  fruit  trees  : 

English  cherries : May  Dukes,  Black,  White,  Bleeding,  Am- 
ber hearts  and  Red  hearts,  Coronations,  Honey,  Kentish,  Maz- 
erine,  Morello  cherry. 

Nectarines : The  Fair  Child  Early,  Large  Green  Clingstone, 
Yellow,  Yellow  Roman,  Red  Roman,  Elruge,  Temples,  Brugnon 
or  Italian. 

Plums  : Green  Gage,  Yellow  Egg  (as  big  as  a hen’s  egg), 
White  Sweet  do.  (bigger),  Orleans  do.  (very  large  and  fine), 
Imperatrice,  Red  Imperial,  White  Imperial,  Drap  d’Or,  Royal, 
Apricot,  White  Bona  Magnum,  Vilet  Pardegel,  Red  Diepper, 
Whiteten,  Jean  Hative,  Precose  Deture,  Fotherings,  Perdigron, 

345 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

White  Perdigron,  Damis  Vilet,  La  Prune  Valure,  Brig  Nole, 
Carline,  White  Damson,  Large  Red  Sweet,  Large  Holland, 
Early  Sweet  Damson,  Late  Sweet  Damson. 

Apricots:  Large  Early,  Large  French  Brussels,  Breda, 
Orange,  Masculine,  Bloucht,  Algier,  Roman,  Turkey,  Small 
Sweet. 

Peaches  : Rare  Ripe,  Early  Nutmeg  (ripe  in  July),  Old  New- 
ington, New  Newington,  Large  Early,  Large  Early  Clingstone, 
Large  Red  Clingstone  (weighs  from  n to  15  oz.),  Yellow  Cling- 
stone called  the  Carolina  Canada  (weighs  1 lb.),  Barcelona  Yel- 
low Clingstone,  Murketong,  Large  Red  Stone  (10  to  15  oz.), 
Large  Yellow  Clingstone  (ripe  Oct.  15th,  10  to  12  oz.),  Large 
White,  do.  (14  oz.),  Large  Lemon,  do.,  English  Double  Rose, 
Large  Yellow  Malagatune,  Large  Yellow  Winter  Clingstone, 
Large  White  Stone,  White  Winter  Clingstone,  Blood  Peach, 
Carolina  Red  Cheek  Malagatune,  Western  Newington,  Eliz- 
abeth, Yellow  Catharine. 

Pears:  Burgamot,  Catharine,  Vergalue,  July,  Monsieur 
Jean,  Tromp  Valet,  French  Primitive,  Winter  Bon  Chretien, 
Easter  Burgamot,  Amber,  Chaumontel,  Russelet,  Early  Sugar, 
Burie  Vert,  Winter  Burie,  Burie  de  Roy,  Green  Chizell,  Swan’s 
Egg,  Colmar,  Crassan,  Spanish  Bon  Chretien,  Large  Bell,  Citron 
de  Camis,  Summer  Burgamot,  Autumn  Burgamot,  Brocause  Bur- 
gamot, Winter  Burgamot,  Hampden’s  Burgamot,  Ammerzell, 
Lent  Sangermain,  Gergenell,  Rouselon,  Cuffe  Madam,  Green 
Catharine,  La  Chasserie,  Yourdal’s  Sangermain,  Orange,  Large 
Winter  (near  21  lbs.),  Pear  Wardens,  Empress,  Large  Summer 
Baking. 

Apples:  Newtown  Pippins,  White  Pippins,  Large  Pippins, 
Golden  Pippins,  yEsopus  Spitzenburgh,  Newtown  Spitzenburgh, 
Pearmains,  Vandevels,  Large  Red  and  Green  (ripe  at  Midsum- 
mer, weighs  over  1 lb.),  Genneting,  Bow,  English  Codlin,  Red 
Streaks,  Jersey  Greens,  Golden  Rennets,  Russitons,  Lady,  Non 
Parrel,  Lidington,  Rhode  Island  Greening,  Swar,  Large  White 
Sweeting,  Bell  Flower.” 

Some  of  the  names  of  these  varieties  appear  be- 
neath an  almanac  shown  on  page  344.  Upon  this 

34b 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

is  written,  “ From  the  collection  of  Robert  Fur- 
ber,  Gardener  at  South  Kensington,  1732,  and 
sold  by  Thomas  Bakewell,  Birchin  Lane,  Cornhill, 
London.  This  hung  in  the  state  dining-room  in 
Elizabeth,  N.  J.” 

Not  content  with  what  their  own  orchards  could 
supply,  rich  New  Yorkers  imported  the  fruits  of 
the  West  Indies.  Pineapples  were  regularly  on  the 
market.  Watermelons  were  early  taken  into  favour. 
Kalm  says:  “The  watermelons  which  are  cultivated 
near  the  town  grow  very  large  ; they  are  extremely 
delicious  and  are  better  than  in  other  parts  of  North 
America,  though  they  are  planted  in  the  open  fields 
and  never  in  a hot-bed.  I saw  a water-melon  at  Gov- 
ernor Clintons  in  September,  1750,  which  weighed 
forty-seven  English  pounds,  and  at  a merchant’s  in 
town  another  of  forty-two  pounds  weight ; however, 
they  were  reckoned  the  biggest  ever  seen  in  this 
country.”  In  August,  1774,  an  item  read:  “A  water- 
melon was  last  week  cut  at  a gentleman’s  table  in  this 
city  that  grew  in  his  own  garden  on  this  island,  that 
weighed  no  less  than  50  lbs.” 

The  fish  caught  in  the  fresh  waters  of  New  York 
province  from  the  earliest  days  were  salmon,  sturgeon, 
striped  bass,  drums,  shad,  carp,  perch,  pike,  trout, 
thick-heads,  suckers,  sunfish,  catfish,  eels,  lampreys, 
divers,  mullets,  or  frost-fish.  The  sea-food  comprised 
cod,  weakfish,  halibut,  herring,  mackerel,  thornback, 
flounders,  plaice,  bream,  blackfish,  lobsters,  oysters, 
crabs,  mussels,  periwinkles,  shrimps,  lobsters,  clams, 
turtles,  and  porpoises.  Sturgeon  were  plentiful  in  the 
Hudson,  but  only  the  small  size  was  eaten.  The  roe 

347 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

was  highly  prized  for  caviare  by  the  English.  Stur- 
geon was  also  pickled  for  market.  In  1765,  John 
Alexander  & Co.  advertised  New  York  pickled 
sturgeon  and  vaunted  its  superiority  “ both  as  to  the 
quality  of  the  fish  and  the  richness  of  the  pickle.” 
Coenties  Slip  Market  (established  1691)  was  the 
Billingsgate  of  New  York,  and  was  known  as  the 
Great  Fish  Market.  In  1721,  Josiah  Quincy  peti- 
tioned the  Corporation  “ for  land  at  or  near  Kings- 


Wine  bottles  and  glasses  and  copper  tea-kettle  ; now  in  the  Museum  of  the 
New  York  Colonial  Dames.  See  pages  163  and  164. 

bridge  to  erect  a fishery,  with  liberty  to  fish  in  the 
river  at  that  place  ; and  proposes  to  supply  the  mar- 
kets at  New  York  with  fish  very  fresh  and  at  very 
easy  rates,  and  in  payment,  rendering  therefore  yearly 
on  every  fourteenth  day  of  October  to  this  Corpora- 
tion a good  dish  of  fresh  fish.”  Five  years  later,  the 
General  Assembly  granted  to  Fewis  De  Fangloiserie 
the  sole  right  to  the  porpoise  fishery  within  this 
province  for  ten  years. 

Shell-fish  were  particularly  esteemed.  This  sea- 

348 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


food  was  always  plentiful.  During  the  Dutch  rule, 
writers  had  remarked  the  abundance  and  excellence 
of  lobsters,  crabs,  periwinkles,  oysters,  clams,  mussels, 
shrimps  and  turtles.  Some  of  the  lobsters  were  enor- 
mous “ being  from  five  to  six  feet  in  length  ; others 
again  are  from  a foot  to  a foot  and  a half  long,  which 
are  the  best  for  the  table.”  Most  important  of  all 
shell-fish  was  the  oyster,  very  extensive  beds  of  which 
existed  in  the  adjacent  waters.  The  oysters,  lobsters 
and  other  fish  were  to  be  found  at  the  very  doors  of 
many  of  the  country-seats  on  this  island  and  the 
islands  in  the  bay.  The  provisions  afforded  by  Na- 
ture have  appeared  in  some  advertisements  already 
quoted.  The  following  appears  in  1772  : 

“ Little  Bern  Island  at  public  auction,  belonging  to  the  estate 
of  Mr.  St.  George  Talbot,  deceased,  situate  opposite  New  Har- 
lem Church,  in  the  out-ward  of  this  City,  containing  upwards 
of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  and  meadows.  It  abounds  with 
wild  fowl,  as  ducks,  geese,  pidgeons,  quails,  etc.,  and  has  the 
advantage  of  a fine  seine  fishery,  and  black-fish,  oysters,  lob- 
sters, etc.  Being  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  the  produce 
may  be  brought  to  the  Fly  Market  with  the  tide  of  ebb,  and  the 
flood  will  waft  the  craft  home.” 

New  York  oysters  were  always  very  fine.  They 
were  eaten  raw,  and  cooked  in  almost  as  many  ways 
as  they  are  to-day.  Moreover,  every  good  hotel  had 
pickled  oysters  on  its  bill  of  fare  ; and  they  were  ex- 
ported in  large  quantities.  In  1774,  Abraham  Dela- 
noy  announced  that  he  “ pickles  oysters  and  lobsters  ; 
and  puts  up  fried  oysters  so  as  to  keep  a considerable 
time  even  in  a hot  climate.”  In  1753,  a writer  tes- 
tified : 


349 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“Though  we  abound  in  no  one  kind  of  fish  sufficient  for  a 
staple,  yet  such  is  our  happiness  in  this  article  that  not  one  of 
the  colonies  affords  a fish  market  of  such  a plentiful  variety  as 
ours.  Boston  has  none  but  sea-fish,  and  of  these  Philadelphia 
is  entirely  destitute,  being  only  furnished  with  the  fish  of  a 
fresh  water  river  New  York  is  sufficiently  supplied  with  both 
sorts.  Nor  ought  our  vast  plenty  of  oysters  to  pass  without 
particular  observation  ; in  their  quality  they  are  exceeded  by 
those  of  no  country  whatever.  People  of  all  ranks  amongst 
us  in  general  prefer  them  to  any  other  kind  of  food.  Nor  is 
anything  wanting,  save  a little  of  the  filings  of  copper,  to  ren- 
der them  equally  relishing,  even  to  an  English  palate,  with  the 
best  from  Colchester.  They  continue  good  eight  months  in 
the  year,  and  are  for  two  months  longer  the  daily  food  of  our 
poor.  Their  beds  are  within  view  of  the  town,  and  I am  in- 
formed that  an  oysterman,  industriously  employed,  may  clear 
eight  or  ten  shillings  a day.” 

In  1771,  attention  was  called  to  the  law  to  prevent 
the  giving  or  selling  of  unripe  fruit  and  oysters  within 
the  city  of  New  York.  There  was  a £3  penalty  for 
bringing  in  oysters  during  May,  June,  July  and  Au- 
gust. 

Terrapin  was  eaten  here  two  centuries  and  a half 
ago.  New  Yorkers  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  were 
as  fond  as  a London  alderman  of  turtle.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Burnaby  notes  : “There  are  several  houses  pleas- 
antly situated  upon  the  East  River  where  it  is  com- 
mon to  have  turtle  feasts  ; these  happen  once  or  twice 
a week.  Thirty  or  forty  gentlemen  and  ladies  meet 
to  dine  together,  drink  tea  in  the  afternoon,  fish,  and 
amuse  themselves  till  evening,  and  then  return  home 
in  Italian  chaises — a gentleman  and  lady  in  each  chaise. 
In  the  way  there  is  a bridge,  about  three  miles  distant 
from  New  York  which  you  always  pass  over  as  you 

35o 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

return,  called  the  Kissing  Bridge,  where  it  is  a part  of 
the  etiquette  to  salute  the  lady  who  has  put  herself 
under  your  protection.”  This  bridge  was  over  De 
Voor’s  mill-stream,  about  Fifty-third  Street  between 
Second  and  Third  Avenues. 

The  arrival  of  shad  in  April  was  always  welcomed. 
Several  large  catches  of  this  fish  are  recorded.  Thus 
on  April  19,  1756,  we  read  : “ On  last  Thursday,  5 , 75 1 
shad  were  caught  at  one  draught  on  the  west  side  of 
Long  Island.”  A week  later,  the  editor  notes  : 

“ The  end  of  last  week  on  the  departure  of  most  of  His 
Majesty’s  forces,  fresh  beef  was  sold  in  our  markets  at  6d.  per 
pound  by  the  whole  quarter.  This  seemed  to  be  a gloomy 
prospect  for  many  poor  who  buy  from  hand  to  mouth ; but  that 
Being  who  careth  for  them,  happily  sent  in  a few  days  large 
supplies  of  fish;  and  on  Thursday  last,  Mr.  Bernard  Johnson 
on  Long  Island,  caught  5,700  shad  at  one  hawl  of  a sein,  be- 
sides large  numbers  of  several  other  hawls;  and  the  next  day 
sold  the  greater  part  of  them  in  our  markets.”  A still  greater 
catch  is  noticed  on  April  21st,  1774:  “Last  Tuesday  morning 
9,000  shad  were  caught  in  the  seines  of  Mr.  Justice  Cortelyou 
at  the  Narrows.” 

Bass  also  were  sometimes  caught  in  large  quanti- 
ties. Thus,  March  21,  1765  : “On  Saturday  last  were 
brought  to  town  near  2,000  fine  bass  taken  up  in  the 
North  River  near  the  Highlands,  being  much  fresher 
and  better  than  those  usually  brought  from  Long 
Island,  which  are  not  so  soon  brought  to  market  after 
they  are  taken.”  For  some  years,  the  fishing  trade 
languished  after  1 760,  so  that  to  encourage  it  the 
General  Assembly  passed  an  Act  in  1773,  granting 
^200  per  annum  for  five  years  in  premiums  “for  the 
better  supplying  the  markets  of  the  City  with  fish.” 

35 1 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Ray  and  skate  were  excepted,  and  special  premiums 
were  offered  for  mackerel,  sheepshead  and  cod.  The 
next  year  dried  herrings  were  added  to  the  list.  In 
1771,  some  Albany  men  stocked  the  Hudson  with 
salmon,  and  a law  was  passed  here  providing  a penalty 
of  £5  for  the  offence  of  catching  a salmon  in  Hudson 
waters  and  tributaries  for  five  years. 

The  quiet  waters  of  the  harbour  were  frequently 
visited  by  sharks  and  whales,  whose  arrival  is  noted 
in  the  newspapers.  In  September, 
1764,  for  instance:  “Monday  a 
shark  ten  feet  long  was  taken  at 
the  New  Dock  a very  few 
yards  from  the  shore  ; ” and 
in  October,  1773:  “Several 
days  last  week,  a consider- 
able large  whale  was  seen 
in  the  North  as  well  as 
the  East  River  of  this  City.” 
It  will  have  been  noticed 
that  every  house  fit  for  habi- 
tation had  its  cellar,  the  capac- 
ity for  wine  storage  of  which 
was  sometimes  given.  Not- 
withstanding the  consumption 
of  coffee  and  chocolate  as  bever- 
ages, and  the  great  vogue  of  tea, 
yet  hard  drinking  was  the  rule 
rather  than  the  exception  here 
as  in  England.  Every  gentle- 
man had  his  cellar  well  stored  with  the  wines  of  Bor- 
deaux, Burgundy,  Rhenish  Prussia,  Spain,  Portugal, 


Chocolate  pot  (1786) 
owned  by  Mrs.  Douglas 
Robinson.  See  page 

152. 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 


and  especially  the  Azores  and  Canary  Islands.  The 
latter  included  Cape,  Madeira,  Fayal,  Vidonia  and 
Canary.  When  Governor  Burnet  died,  in  1729,  his 
cellar  contained  more  than  twelve  hundred  bottles 
and  flasks  of  wine,  besides  a pipe  of  Madeira  and  a 
quarter  cask  of  Fayal. 

Governor  Burnet’s  table  was  well  supplied  with 
continental  brands,  particularly  French  and  Rhine 
wines.  The  average  cellar  of  the  day  contained  a 
much  greater  proportion  of  island  wines ; indeed 
Madeira  was  the  most  popular  wine  for  a century  and 
a half.  This  was  the  wine  in  which  toasts  were  usu- 
ally drunk,  and  that  in  which  the  health  of  the  King 
was  drunk  when  guests  gathered  at  the  Fort  and  else- 
where on  His  Majesty’s  birthday. 

Beer  was  imported  in  large  quantities  both  in 
cask  and  bottle.  Bottled  Taunton  ale,  York  and  Bris- 
tol beer,  and  London  ales  were  on  sale.  Liqueurs, 
or  “cordial  waters”  were  also  drunk  in  large  quanti- 
ties, and  of  these  there  were  a great  variety.  Among 
the  latter  we  find  Clove  Water,  Orange  Water,  Car- 
raway  Water,  Geneva,  Rosa  Solis,  Usquebaugh  (in- 
cluded among  French  liqueurs),  Essence  of  Tea, 
Essence  of  Coffee,  Anise,  Free  Mason’s  Cordial,  Par- 
faite  Amour,  Oil  of  Venus,  Oil  of  Hazelnuts,  Berga- 
mot, and  many  others. 

In  1766,  Richard  Deane,  distiller  from  Ireland, 
had  for  sale  at  his  distillery  on  Long  Island,  near  the 
Ferry  : Aniseed  Water,  Orange  Water,  Clove  Water, 
All  Fours,  or  the  Cordial  of  Cordials,  Nutmeg  Water, 
Red  Ratafie,  Golden  Cordial,  Royal  Usquebaugh, 
Plain  ditto,  Royal  Water,  Cordial  of  Health,  Cinna- 
24  353 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

mon  Water,  Cardamun  Water,  Angelica  Water,  Aqua 
Coelestis,  or  Heavenly  Water,  Ros  Solis,  Stoughton’s 
Elixir,  Aqua  Mirabilis,  or  Wonderful  Water,  besides 
Irish  Whisky,  Brandy  and  Rectified  Spirits  of  Wine. 

It  is  somewhat  astonishing  to  count  the  generous 
number  of  toasts  drunk  at  the  various  society  fes- 
tivities. Twenty  was  a modest  list.  When  Captain 
McDougal  received  forty-five  friends  who  visited  him 
in  gaol  in  February,  1770,  they  dined  on  45  lbs.  of 
steak  and  drank  45  toasts  each.  The  appeal  for 
temperance  was  sometimes  heard.  In  1749,  a paper 
published  a “ warning  to  those  who  indulge  im- 
moderately in  the  pleasure  of  Madeira.”  In  1764, 
another  writer  complained  that  “ Rum,  tea  and  sugar 
now  become  habitual  and  necessary  to  all  ranks  of 
people,  will  considerably  rise  in  their  price,  and  also 
wines  which  some  think  are  become  more  necessary 
than  ever  to  keep  up  our  spirits.” 


“ Abraham  Delanoy,  Oysters  and  Lobsters.”  (1774.) 


354 


Ill 


MARKETS  AND  COOKERY 

Owners  of  country-seats  could  bountifully  supply 
their  tables  from  their  own  possessions  with  dairy 
produce,  fruits,  vegetables,  flesh,  fowl  and  sometimes 
with  fish  also.  For  the  rest  of  the  community,  there 
were  public  markets  to  which  the  country  people  of 
Staten  Island,  New  Jersey,  and  Long  Island  brought 
provisions  every  day.  Kalm  says  that  as  he  was  sail- 
ing up  the  North  River  in  1748  : 

“ All  the  afternoon,  we  saw  a whole  fleet  of  little  boats, 
returning  from  New  York  whither  they  had  brought  provisions 
and  other  goods  for  sale  ; which,  on  account  of  the  extensive 
commerce  of  this  town,  and  the  great  number  of  its  inhabitants, 
go  off  very  well.  During  eight  months  of  the  year,  this  river 
is  full  of  yachts  and  other  greater  and  lesser  vessels,  either 
going  to  New  York  or  returning  from  thence,  laden  either  with 
inland  or  foreign  goods.  The  country  people  come  to  market 
in  New  York  twice  a week  much  in  the  same  manner  as  they 
do  in  Philadelphia;  with  this  difference — that  the  markets  are 
kept  in  several  places.” 

Poultry  and  game  were  always  plentiful  and  good. 
Wild  geese  and  ducks,  and  other  water-fowl  were 
very  abundant.  During  their  migration  in  Spring 
and  Autumn,  dense  flocks  of  pigeons  sometimes 
darkened  the  sky.  In  April,  1754,  the  public  were 
informed  : “We  had  such  great  quantities  of  pidgeons 
in  our  markets  last  week,  that  no  less  then  six  were 
sold  for  one  old  penny.” 


355 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Outside  the  markets,  no  shops  existed  where  meat, 
fish,  or  fruit  was  offered  for  sale.  But,  in  1763, 
“ Hyam  Myers  at  the  Sign  of  the  Poulterers  in 
Broad  Street,  near  the  City  Hall  takes  this  method 
to  inform  the  public  that  he  intends  to  keep  a proper 

poulterers  shop  in  the  same 
manner  as  they  are  kept  in 
London.” 

With  few  exceptions, 
the  authorities  required  all 
perishable  provisions  to  be 
sold  in  the  markets.  There 
were  many  regulations  for 
the  benefit  of  the  citizens. 
In  1731,  a law  stated  that 
as  the  city  was  chiefly  pro- 
visioned by  the  country 
people  coming  by  water 
from  the  neighbouring 
counties  and  colonies,  who 
arrived  at  different  times 
and  seasons  as  the  tides, 
winds  and  weather  permit- 
ted, for  which  reason  no 
certain  dates  could  be  con- 
veniently appointed  for 
holding  the  markets  with- 
out injury  to  both  buyers 
and  sellers,  therefore  every  day  except  Sunday  was  to 
be  a market  day,  from  sunrise  to  sunset. 

The  places  appointed  were  “ at  the  market-house 
at  the  Slip,  commonly  called  Counties  Dock,  at  the 

35b 


Dutch  cabinet  owned  by  Mrs.  F. 
H.  Bosworth.  See  page  i 22. 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

market-house  at  the  Old  Slip,  commonly  called  Bur- 
gers Path,  at  the  market-house  at  the  lower  end  of 
Wall  Street,  commonly  called  Wall  Street  Market 
House,  and  at  the  Market  House  at  or  near  Countess 
Key,  commonly  called  Countesses  Slip.”  Since  the 
markets  were  principally  intended  for  the  benefit  of 
housekeepers  who  bought  for  their  own  use,  hucksters 
and  retailers  were  not  allowed  to  go  to  the  markets 
to  make  their  purchases  till  the  afternoon.  Fore- 
stalling was  strictly  prohibited.  Penalities  were  pro- 
vided against  the  exposure  for  sale  of  bad  or  stale 
meat,  or  other  food.  Butter  in  pounds,  rolls,  pots, 
dishes,  or  other  vessels,  not  exceeding  six  pounds, 
was  to  have  its  weight  stamped  upon  it.  If  any 
fraud  was  discovered,  the  butter  was  forfeited  to  the 
poor.  All  weights  and  measures  were  to  be  sealed, 
and  the  clerk  of  the  market  was  to  receive  one  penny 
for  sealing  each  piece.  Severe  weather  sometimes 
prevented  supplies  from  reaching  the  market,  and  then 
prices  naturally  rose.  On  Febry.  9th  1747,  we  read: 

“ The  deplorable  circumstances  this  city  is  under,  from  a 
long  service  of  cold  and  freezing  weather,  is  matter  of  concern 
to  all.  This  now  not  only  hinders  our  foreign  navigation 
(and  so  consequently  prevents  news)  but  occasions  our  fire- 
wood to  be  so  scarce  and  dear  as  was  never  equalled  here 
before;  the  price  being  from  40  to  58  sh.  a cord  and  almost 
half  the  inhabitants  in  want.  Provisions  also  are  excessive 
dear ; a good  turkey,  which  scarcely  ever  before  exceeded  3s, 
6d.  has  lately  been  sold  for  5^.  a fat  fowl  for  is.  6d.  a pound  of 
butter  for  14 d.  and  many  other  things  proportionable.  Under 
all  these  disadvantages,  what  must  our  poor  suffer  ? ” 

In  1740,  an  Act  declared  that  “ of  late  years  great 
numbers  of  Negroes,  Indians  and  Mulattoes,  slaves, 

357 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

have  made  it  a common  practice  of  buying,  selling 
and  exposing  to  sale,  not  only  in  houses,  out-houses, 
and  yards,  but  likewise  on  the  public  streets,  great 
quantities  of  boiled  Indian  corn,  peas,  peaches,  apples, 
and  other  kinds  of  fruit ; which  pernicious  practice  is 
not  only  detrimental  to  their  owners  because  of  neg- 
lect of  service,  but  is  also  productive  of  infectious 
diseases.”  Offenders  in  future  were  to  be  publicly 
whipped. 

Milk  was  one  of  the  articles  excepted  from  the 
necessity  of  being  sold  in  the  public  markets.  It  was 
usually  carried  from  house  to  house  in  big  pails  sus- 
pended from  a yoke  resting  on  the  shoulders,  as  is  still 
often  done  in  England. 

In  1763,  provisions  had  become  too  dear  to  suit 
the  authorities  ; and,  so  to  the  great  discontent  of 
butchers  and  others,  an  Assize  of  Victuals  was  en- 
acted. This  ordered  that  “No  kind  of  provisions  or 
victuals  are  to  be  sold  anywhere  but  in  the  common 
Market  Houses  of  this  city  (except  live  fish,  bread, 
flour,  salted  beef,  salted  pork,  butter,  milk,  hog’s  lard, 
oysters,  clams  and  muscles)  under  the  penalty  of  £4.0 
for  each  offence.”  No  huckster  may  buy  to  sell  again 
before  1 1 a.  m.  (^3  penalty).  Following  this  appeared 
a list  of  fixed  prices  for  a good  number  of  articles. 

A correspondent  signing  himself  Plebeanus  said  : 

“ There  was  never  a more  just  or  necessary  law.  The  im- 
positions of  the  butchers  and  the  extravagant  demands  of 
some  of  the  neighouring  country  people  have  loudly  called  for 
redress,  and  must  soon  have  proved  to  the  poorer  sort  abso- 
lutely ruinous.  As  to  the  affront  offered  to  the  dignity  of  the 
butchers,  and  the  airs  they  assume  on  the  occasion,  I doubt 

358 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


not  they  will  soon  be  made  sensible  that  the  law  is  not  like 
a sirloin,  to  be  rescinded  with  broad-ax  and  cleaver ; and 
should  they  refuse  to  continue  their  business  on  the  law’s  tak- 
ing place,  I hope  the  gentlemen  of  the  city  will  not  hesitate  a 
moment  to  raise  an  adequate  sum  by  subscription  to  supply 
the  market  at  a lower  rate  than  that  prescribed  by  the  ordi- 
nance; upon  which  the  Corporation  ’tis  hoped  will  instantly 
turn  every  butcher’s  stall  out  of  the  market,  nor  ever  suffer 
them  to  be  replaced  till  after  suitable  proofs  of  contrition  and 
remorse.  For  we  have  really  been  imposed  upon  by  one  of 
the  most  impudent  combinations  that  was  ever  suffered  among 
a free  and  thinking  people.  Was  it  not  astonishing  and  beyond 
all  human  tolerance  that  beef  should  be  sold  from  7 d.  to  8</. 
per  lb.  when  it  might  be  offered  for  3d.  and  4 d.  and  yield  a 
sufficient  profit  ? Cattle  were  perhaps  never  plentier  or  cheaper 
in  the  country  than  the  greater  part  of  the  time  during  which 
this  exorbitant  price  has  been  exacted.” 

This  law  excited  a mutiny  among  the  butchers, 
and,  after  further  consideration,  the  prices  of  butter, 
milk,  and  meats  were  slightly  raised.  An  interesting 
light  is  cast  upon  the  marketing  manners  of  the  day 
(1763)  by  the  letter  of  a lady  who  complained  : 

“ I have  frequently  observed,  and  sometimes  felt,  great 
rudeness  and  ill  manners  in  our  public  markets ; especially 
when  any  kind  of  provision  appeared  of  which  there  was  a 
scarcity.  I have  seen  people  press  and  shove  with  such  rude- 
ness and  violence  as  sufficiently  showed  an  intention  truly  hos- 
tile and  that  force  alone  could  determine  the  purchasers;  and 
sometimes  the  prey  has  been  seized  and  in  danger  of  being  torn 
to  pieces  by  two  furious  combatants,  equally  voracious,  who 
seemed  by  their  actions  to  be  upon  the  point  of  starving  and 
to  contend  for  their  lives.  I,  who  am  a woman  unused  to  war 
and  of  a peaceable  disposition,  have  been  obliged  to  give  up 
my  pretensions  to  the  goods,  half-purchased,  and  give  place  to 
one  of  more  strength  and  resolution,  being  not  quite  reduced 
to  the  necessity  of  fighting  or  starving. 

359 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


“All  that  are  weak  and  peaceable  like  myself  have  been  ex- 
cluded from  purchasing  in  the  market  by  rudeness  and  force. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  persons  guilty  of  such  misbehaviour 
need  only  to  be  told  of  it  to  avoid  it,  and,  as  they  value  their 
own  liberty,  not  encroach  upon  that  of  their  neighbours.  Such 
conduct  has  also  a direct  tendency  to  raise  the  price  of  provi- 
sions in  the  market  to  the  extravagant  price  that  we  all  have 
had  reason  to  complain  of.” 

Some  dealers  were  none  too  scrupulous  at  times. 
The  authorities  kept  a close  watch  on  “ blown  ” meat 
and  other  provisions  that  were  dishonestly  manipu- 
lated. Three  examples  follow  : 

“ Saturday  morning  last,  several  parcels  of  butter  were 
seized  in  the  Fly  Market  for  being  deficient  in  weight;  al- 
though it  was  sold  for  1 8d.  per  lb.”  (1762.) 

“A  quantity  of  bad  butter  was  seized  in  our  market  be- 
longing to  one  Mr.  Rosea  of  Staten  Island.  The  rolls  were 
very  artfully  cased  over  with  excellent  fresh  butter,  and  the 
inside  so  bad  that  it  was  fit  for  no  other  use  than  the  soap 
tub.”  (1763.) 

“ Some  days  ago,  nine  pigs  were  seized  in  the  Fly  Market 
as  perfect  carrion,  which  on  the  mayor’s  view  were  sentenced 
to  be  burnt  publicly  on  the  common,  and  the  owner  of  them 
fined  40/.  The  sentence  was  immediately  put  in  execution  and 
part  of  the  fine  taken  to  purchase  wood  to  burn  them  with.” 
(1768.) 

The  markets  thus  being  so  well  supplied,  and 
their  gardens,  orchards,  fields  and  meadows  producing 
whatever  they  required,  the  New  York  gentry’s  tables 
were  provided  with  all  the  delicacies  of  the  season. 
Great  attention  was  paid  in  the  kitchen  to  the  culi- 
nary art,  and  good  cooks  were  in  great  demand. 
Some  of  the  advertisements  show  that  black  men 
as  well  as  white  women  ruled  in  that  domain,  and, 

36° 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

in  contemporary  phrase,  could  “ send  up  a number  of 
dishes.” 

Cooking  was  reckoned  among  the  accomplish- 
ments of  the  day,  and  ladies,  as  well  as  housekeepers, 
were  expected  to  know  everything  about  preparing 
choice  dishes,  the  making  of  jellies  and  other  sweets 
and  in  setting  and  serving  the  table.  For  those  who 


China  horses  owned  by  Mrs.  F.  H.  Bosworth.  See  page  121. 


had  not  the  advantages  of  home-training,  there  were 
three  valuable  books  published  and  sold  in  1761  by 
Hugh  Gaine  at  the  Bible  and  Crown,  Hanover 
Square.  The  first  was  The  Director , or  Young 
Woman! s Best  Companion , and  contained  “ about 
three  hundred  Receipts  in  Cookery,  Pastry,  Preserv- 
ing, Candying,  Pickling,  Collaring,  Physick  and 
Surgery.”  It  also  gave  instructions  for  marketing, 
directions  for  carving  and  “ Bills  of  Fare  for  Every 
Month  in  the  year.”  The  second  was  The  Complete 

361 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Housewife , or  A ccomplisli d Gentlewoman  s Companiony 
and  contained  “ upwards  of  six  hundred  of  the  most 
approved  Receipts  of  Cookery,  Pastry,  Confectionery, 
Preserving,  Pickles,  Cakes,  Creams,  Jellies,  Made 
Wines,  Cordials,  with  Copper  Plates  curiously  En- 
graven for  the  regular  Disposition  or  placing  of  the 
various  Dishes  and  Courses,  and  also  Bills  of  Fare  for 
every  month  in  the  year.”  The  third  was  even  more 
exhaustive.  It  was  called  The  British  Housewife , or 
the  Cook , Housekeeper  and  Gardiner  s Companion  cal- 
culated for  the  Service  both  of  London  and  the  Coun- 
try. In  addition  to  its  receipts  and  bills  of  fare,  it 
gave  directions  for  carving  and  “ the  polite  and  easy 
manner  of  doing  the  Honours  of  the  Table,”  and  also 
explained  fully  the  “ Order  of  setting  out  Tables  for 
Dinners,  Suppers,  and  Grand  Entertainments  in  a 
Method  never  before  attempted.” 

In  these  books,  a great  deal  of  space  was  given  to 
the  preparation  of  wines,  cordials,  shrubs,  and  other 
agreeable  drinks.  Ladies  in  the  Eighteenth  Century 
did  not  scorn  to  brew  a punch,  egg-nog,  or  posset. 

In  1743,  The  Weekly  Post-Boy  gives  “A  Receipt 
for  all  Young  Ladies  that  are  going  to  be  married, 
to  make  a Sack  Posset.” 

“From  fam’d  Barbados  on  the  western  Main 
Fetch  sugar  half  a pound  ; fetch  Sack  from  Spain 
A Pint,  and  from  the  Eastern  Indian  Coast 
Nutmeg,  the  Glory  of  our  Northern  Toast. 

O’r  flaming  Coals  together  let  them  heat, 

Till  the  all  conquering  Sack  dissolve  the  Sweet. 

O’er  such  another  Fire  set  Eggs  twice  ten, 

New  born  from  foot  of  Cock  and  Rump  of  Hen  ; 

Stir  them  with  steady  Hand,  and  Conscience  pricking, 

To  see  th’  untimely  Fate  of  Twenty  Chicken. 

362 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 


From  shining  Shelf  take  down  your  brazen  Skillet, 

A quart  of  milk  from  gentle  Cow  will  fill  it. 

When  boil’d  and  cool’d  put  Milk  and  Sack  to  Egg, 
Unite  them  firmly  like  the  triffle  League ; 

Then  covered  close,  together  let  them  dwell 
Till  Miss  twice  sings — You  must  not  Kiss  and  tell. 
Each  Lad  and  Lass  snatch  up  their  murdering  Spoon, 
And  fall  on  fiercely  like  a Starved  Dragoon.” 


The  ingredients  of  elaborate  dishes  were  readily 
obtainable  in  the  city  shops,  for  the  groceries  of  the 
day  were  almost  as  varied  as  now.  All  kinds  of 
spice,  candied  and  dried  fruits,  pre- 
serves and  pickles,  both  imported 
and  native,  were  procurable.  In 
1730,  Nicholas  Bayard  erected  a 
sugar-refinery  : “ At  which  Refin- 
ing-House all  Persons  in  city  and 
Country  may  be  supplied  by 
Wholesale  and  Retail  with 
both  double  and  single  Re- 
fined Loaf-Sugar,  as  also 
Powder  and  Shop  - Sugars, 
and  Sugar-Candy  at  Reason- 
able Rates.” 

Among  innumerable  arti- 
cles of  this  class  offered  for 
sale  may  be  mentioned  : 
pickled  mushrooms  in  quart 
bottles,  pickled  onions  from 
London,  choice  lemons, 

ground  ginger,  sweet  oil,  Florence  oil  by  the  bettee, 
anchovies,  capers,  olives,  catchup,  red  herrings,  citron, 
pickled  herrings,  Turkey  figs,  Lisbon  lemons,  cur- 


Chippendale  chair  ; in  the  Mu- 
seum for  the  Art  of  Decora- 
tion, Cooper  Union. 


363 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

rants,  China  oranges,  East  India  mangoes,  English 
walnuts  and  jar  raisins. 

The  following  typical  advertisement  will  show 
that  the  shopkeepers  were  accustomed  to  supply  the 
demands  of  delicate  palates,  and  that  the  tables  of  the 
well-to-do  displayed  no  Spartan  simplicity  : 

“ To  be  sold,  wholesale  and  retail,  by  William  Keen, 
grocer  and  confectioner  on  Rotten  Row  : Firre  Heyson,  Green, 
Congoe  and  Bohea  Tea;  Coffee  and  Chocolate;  single  and 
double  Refined  Sugar;  Powder  and  Muscovado  do.;  Sugar 
Candy;  Sugar  Plumbs  and  Carraway ; Confects;  Jarr  Raisins 
and  Cask  ditto ; Currants,  Figgs  and  Prunes;  Almonds  in  the 
Shell;  Cloves,  Mace,  Cinnamon  and  Nutmeg;  Ginger,  Black 
Pepper  and  Allspice;  Dry  Citron  by  the  Box  or  smaller  quan- 
tity; West  India  Sweetmeats  of  all  Sorts;  Preserves  of  all 
Sorts,  such  as  Currants,  Jellys,  Quinces,  Grapes,  Strawberries, 
Raspberries,  Damsons,  Peaches,  Plumbs  and  sundry  other  sorts. 

“ Pickles  of  all  sorts  in  small  quantities,  very  fit  for  the 
Army,  such  as  Wallnuts,  Cucumbers,  Mangoes,  Peppers,  Capers, 
Anchovies,  etc.  Pickled  oysters  and  lobsters.”  (1761.) 


*<  George  Webster,  Grocer,  at  the  Sign  of  the 
Three  Sugar  Loaves.’ ’ ( 1 773- ) 


364 


IV 


TAVERNS  AND  TEA  GARDENS 

Taverns  played  a very  important  part  in  the  social 
life  of  the  day,  and  the  hosts  were  respected  in  the 
community  and  were  frequently  of  considerable  weight 
and  standing.  The  best  taverns  had  always  a large 
room  for  entertainments  and  balls,  and  these  were 
largely  patronized  by  the  gentry.  There  were  many 
men  in  the  city, — officers,  unmarried  clerks,  etc.,  who 
lived  in  lodgings  and  took  their  meals  at  taverns, 
which  also  provided  ladies  with  delicate  fare.  These 
hostelries  usually  had  delightful  gardens  which  were 
illuminated  on  summer  evenings,  and  sometimes  the 
guests  were  entertained  with  music.  Moreover,  if 
anything  went  wrong  in  the  kitchen  at  home,  or  if 
the  weather  was  too  hot  for  cooking,  there  were  many 
bakers  who  prepared  appetizing  breadstuffs  or  offered 
their  ovens  for  a small  price.  Some  of  the  conven- 
iences within  reach  even  of  a modest  income  appear 
in  the  following  advertisements  : 

“ Mrs.  Brock  has  removed  to  the  new  brick  house  near  the 
City  Hall,  sells  wines,  lets  lodgings  and  furnishes  victuals 
abroad  from  twelve  to  three  o’clock.” 

“ William  Keen  grocer  and  confectioner  purposes  to  carry 
on  Pastry  in  all  its  branches,  where  persons  may  be  supplied 
with  cake  of  all  kinds  done  in  the  best  manner,  Tarts  of  all 
sorts,  with  the  best  of  gingerbread  fit  for  Sea  ; Captains  of 
vessels  and  others  may  be  supplied  with  all  kinds  of  sweet- 

365 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

meats  put  up  in  the  best  manner,  and  variety  of  pickles  of  all 
sorts,  pickled  oysters  done  in  the  best  manner,  anchovies  and 
Capers.  Said  Keen  proposes  to  make  chicken  Pies  and  Meat 
Pies  of  all  sorts/' 

“ Spring  Gardens,  near  the  College,  lately  belonging  to  Mr. 
John  Marshall,  is  opened  for  breakfasting  from  7 o’clock  till  9. 
Tea  in  the  afternoon  from  3 till  6.  The  best  of  green  tea  &c. 
Hot  French  rolls  will  be  provided.  N.  B.  Pies  and  tarts  will 
be  drawn  from  7 in  the  evening  till  9,  where  gentlemen  and 
ladies  may  depend  on  good  attendance;  the  best  of  Madeira, 
mead,  cakes,  &c."  (1763.) 

“William  Muckelvain,  baker,  at  the  sign  of  the  Three  Bis- 
kets  on  Pot  Baker  Hill  will  continue  to  heat  his  oven  at  10  a.  m. 
every  day  during  the  warm  weather  for  baking  dishes  of  meats, 
pies  &c.”  (1763.) 

“ Newfoundland,  more  commonly  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Glass  House,  is  now  opened  for  the  entertainment  of  com- 
pany, where  constant  attendance  is  given  and  everything  that 
is  genteel  and  agreeable  provided.  N.  B.  Breakfasting  at- 
tended from  7 a.  m.  till  10,  and  tea  in  the  afternoon  from  3 till 
6 at  is.  6d.  a head  furnished  with  the  best  green  tea  and  hot 
loaves.  Likewise  any  gentleman  or  lady  that  are  indisposed, 
and  want  to  take  the  benefit  of  the  country  air,  may  be  accom- 
modated with  a genteel  apartment.”  (1763.) 

“ Samuel  Francis  opened  an  Ordinary  at  the  Queen’s  Head 
tavern  near  the  Exchange.  Dinner  every  day  to  be  served  at 
half  past  one.”  (1763  ) 

“ Wm.  Adams  opens,  at  the  Sign  of  General  Monckton  upon 
the  New  Dock,  a Beef-Steak  House,  to  be  ready  Hot  and 
Hot — from  n o’clock  in  the  Morning  till  3 in  the  Afternoon  at 
the  Expense  of  1 Shilling  each.”  (1764.) 

“Just  arrived  from  London,  Monsieur  Lenzi,  confectioner, 
makes  and  sells  all  sorts  of  fine  French,  English,  Italian  and 
German  biskets,  preserved  fruits  (pines,  gooseberries,  straw- 
berries, etc.)  also  in  brandy,  jams,  pastes  and  jellies,  which  will 
be  warranted  for  two  or  three  years  with  good  care;  all  sorts 
of  sugar  plums,  dragees,  barley  sugar,  white  and  brown  sugar 
candy,  ice  cream  and  fruits,  sugar  ornaments  which  are  now 

366 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

ready  for  sale,  or  to  lend  out.”  Later,  he  also  sold  “ sugar  and 
burnt  almonds,  carraway  and  aniseed  comfits,  orange  or  lemon 
sugar  plums,  ginger,  cinnamon  and  other  tablets.  All  kinds  of 
the  finest  and  richest  cakes,  as  Queen,  royal  hearts,  plum  and 
pound  cakes,  maccaroons,  ratafia  drops,  preserved  milk  war- 
ranted to  keep  years,  etc.,  jams,  pastes,  jellies,  any  sort  of  ice 
cream  or  fruits.  He  will  undertake  to  furnish  any  great  enter- 
tainment whatever  in  as  elegant  a manner  as  any  in  Europe.” 
( 1 7 74-) 

“ Edward  Bardin  has  opened  the  noted  tavern  at  the  corner 
house  in  the  Fields  formerly  kept  by  John  Jones.  The  Pantry 
opened  every  evening  at  7 o’clock  and  a cloth  laid  with  the 
following  dishes:  Roast  Beef,  Veal,  Mutton,  Lamb,  Ducks  and 
Chickens,  Gammon,  Lobsters,  Pickled  Oysters,  Custards,  and 
Tarts  of  Different  Kinds.  Chicken  Pies  ready  for  Supper  every 
night.  Tea  and  Coffee  every  afternoon.  He  has  a large  com- 
modious room  fit  for  balls  and  assemblies.”  (1775.) 

Many  inns  were  commodious  and  well-appointed. 
In  1775,  the  Queen’s  Head  Tavern,  near  the  Ex- 
change (at  the  lower  end  of  Broad  Street),  was 
described  as  being  three  stories  high  with  a tile  and 
lead  roof  ; “it  has  fourteen  fireplaces,  a most  excel- 
lent large  kitchen,  five  dry  cellars,  with  good  and  con- 
venient offices.  It  is  a corner  house,  very  open  and 
airy  and  in  the  most  complete  repair ; near  to  the 
new  ferry.”  The  Queen’s  Head  was  in  existence  as 
early  as  1731. 

Another  tavern,  the  King’s  Arms,  was  famous  in 
the  history  of  New  York  all  through  the  century. 
This  was  in  Broadway  between  Crown  (Liberty)  and 
Little  Prince  (Cedar)  Streets.  It  was  always  a fa- 
vourite resort  of  the  officers  from  Port  George,  and 
many  stories  were  told  of  Lord  Cornbury’s  escapades 
there,  one  of  which  was  of  his  riding  a horse  through 

367 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

the  large  door  and  up  to  the  bar  to  demand  a 
drink. 

Before  the  old  grey  house  with  its  irregular  win- 
dows swung  the  sign  painted  with  “ The  Lion  and 
the  Unicorn  fighting  for  the  Crown.”  A row  of  ca- 
talpa  trees  extended  some  distance  in  front  of  the  inn 
making  the  air  sweet  with  their  heavily-scented 
blooms.  From  the  windows,  and  still  better  from  the 
cupola  on  the  roof,  supplied  with  a table,  seats,  and  a 


Plated  ware  owned  by  Mrs.  Alan  Hartwell  Strong.  See  page  154. 


good  telescope,  a beautiful  view  of  the  Hudson  could 
be  enjoyed.  In  the  bar-room  were  a series  of  small 
boxes  screened  with  green  silk  curtains  where  a guest 
could  enjoy  his  chop  and  ale  or  Madeira  in  privacy. 
The  dining-room  was  large  and  well-furnished.  Wide 
verandas  back  and  front  contributed  to  comfort  in 
summer.  Among  the  other  taverns  were  the  Mason’s. 
Arms,  Fraunces’  Tavern,  Golden  Hill  (John  and 
Cliff  Streets),  New  York,  New  England  and  Quebec 

368 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 

Coffee  House,  the  Horse  and  Cart  and  The  Province 
Arms. 

In  addition  to  the  city  taverns  with  their  ball- 
rooms and  tea-gardens,  there  were  two  famous  estab- 
lishments outside  the  city.  These  were  called  Vaux- 
hall  and  Ranelagh,  in  imitation  of  famous  London 
resorts  of  the  same  names.  Ranelagh  was  a summer 
garden  on  Broadway  between  the  present  Duane  and 
Worth  Streets.  The  New  York  Hospital  was  after- 
wards erected  here,  Governor  Tryon  witnessing  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone.  Vauxhall  Gardens  were 
situated  where  is  now  Greenwich  Street  between  War- 
ren and  Chambers,  facing  the  North  River.  They 
were  on  part  of  Sir  Peter  Warren’s  estate  and  com- 
manded a beautiful  view  of  the  Hudson.  One  or 
two  selections  from  the  numerous  advertisements  will 
show  the  kind  of  entertainment  enjoyed  at  these 
gardens. 

“ At  the  request  of  several  gentlemen  and  ladies  there  will 
be  a concert  twice  a week,  Mondays  and  Thursdays,  6.30  p.  m. 
(Ranelagh  Garden  Concert).  Small  fireworks  will  be  played 
off  and  the  best  entertainment  as  usual,  notwithstanding  the 
artful  insinuations  of  some  ill-minded  people  to  the  contrary.” 

“ Ranelagh  Gardens  (For  breakfasting  as  well  as  the  even- 
ing entertainment  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,)  are  laid  out  at  a 
great  expence  in  a very  genteel  pleasing  manner;  and  judged 
to  be  far  the  most  rural  retreat  any  way  near  this  city.  As  an 
addition  thereto,  a complete  band  of  music  is  engaged  to  per- 
form every  Monday  and  Thursday  evenings  during  the  Sum- 
mer season  (beginning  at  7 o’clock)  a commodious  hall  in  the 
garden  for  dancing,  with  drawing  rooms  neatly  fitted  up;  the 
very  best  of  wine  and  other  liquors,  mead,  sillabub,  etc.  with 
gammon,  tongues,  alamode  beef,  tarts,  cakes,  etc.  etc.  and  on 
25  369 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

notice  given,  dinners  and  other  large  entertainments  elegantly 
provided  as  usual.  N.  B.  When  any  evening  proves  bad  the 
concert  will  be  on  the  following  evening.  (1766.) 

“ Vauxhall  Gardens  have  been  newly  fitted  up  in  a very  gen- 
teel pleasing  Manner,  are  pleasantly  situate,  and  now  open  for 
the  Reception  of  Ladies,  Gentlemen,  etc.,  and  will  be  illumi- 
nated every  evening  in  the  Week;  Coffee,  Tea,  and  Hot  Rolls 
at  any  hour  in  the  day,  neat  Wines  and  other  Liquors,  with 
Cakes,  as  usual.  A concert  of  Music,  Vocal  and  Instrumental 
will  shortly  be  performed  twice  every  Week,  of  which  due  No- 
tice will  be  given.  Contiguous  to  the  Garden  there  is  a very 
good  Long  Room,  convenient  for  a Ball  or  Turtle  Entertain- 
ment; also  Dinners  or  Suppers,  dressed  in  the  most  Elegant 
Manner  on  timely  Notice.”  (1769.) 

“ If  the  Weather  Permits  at  Vauxhall  Gardens.  On  Monday 
the  27th  Inst,  will  be  exhibited  a Magnificent  set  of  Fireworks, 
by  the  Italians,  far  exceeding  any  other  Performance  of  the  kind 
yet  shown  in  the  City;  To  be  disposed  in  the  following  Order: 
First , Eight  Rockets,  which  burst  to  Stars,  Snakes  and  Crackers. 
Second,  A capricious  Wheel,  which  will  represent  a Marquis 
Tent.  Third,  One  Wheel,  illuminated  with  different  Colours 
and  Maroons.  Fourth , One  Tournant  of  brilliant  Fire, 

which  will  represent  at  different  Times  the  Sun  and  Moon. 
Fifth,  Eight  Rockets, — One  Globe,  illuminated  and  adorned 
with  Chinese  Fountains  and  Italian  Candles,  and  in  the  centre 
a beautiful  Girandola  of  different  Fires.  Sixth , One  Wheel, 
illuminated  with  white,  red  and  yellow  Fires, — a piece  repre- 
senting a Cistern  of  Water,  with  twelve  Changes, — a curious 
wheel  representing  a Chinese  Looking  Glass.  Seventh,  A 
curious  Tornant  of  different  Changes  of  Fire.  Eighth,  A Fix’d 
Sun  of  brilliant  Fire.  Ninth,  Eight  Rockets, — a Pigeon  on  a 
Line  will  communicate  Fire  to  three  Triumphal  Arches,  adorn’d 
with  a brilliant  Fire  of  Diamonds,  Chinese  Fountains,  and 
Italian  Candles; — On  each  side  a magnificent  Piece,  repre- 
senting a beautiful  Vase  of  Flowers, — in  the  Centre  a beautiful 
transparent  piece,  representing  the  Wheel  of  Fortune,  adorn’d 
with  several  curious  Illuminations  of  different  Constructions 
and  Colours, — To  conclude  with  Eight  Rockets. 

370 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 

“ The  Fire-works  will  begin  exactly  at  Half  an  Hour  after 
eight, — Music  Proper  for  the  Entertainment  will  be  prepared. 
Tickets  to  be  had  at  the  door  of  the  Gardens  at  $s.  each.  Any 
set  of  Company  that  choose  to  spend  the  evening,  will  please  to 
send  in  Time,  so  that  Rooms,  Supper,  etc.,  may  be  provided.” 

(1769-) 

In  the  disturbances  over  the  Stamp  Act  in  1765, 
Vauxhall  suffered  from  the  rage  of  the  mob.  The 


Silver  owned  by  the  Bowers,  Crooke,  Bleecker  and  Duane  families  ; now 
by  Mrs.  Wilmot  Townsend  Cox.  See  pages  137  and  15  1. 


newspaper  accounts  of  this  affair  described  the  hanging 
and  burning  in  effigy  of  the  distributor  of  the  stamps, 
and  continued  as  follows: 

“ It  is  probable  that  the  conductors  of  this  expedition  in- 
tended the  whole  affair  should  have  ended  here  ; but  while 
many  of  them  were  attending  the  fire,  a large  detachment  of 
volunteers  making  their  passage  through  the  other  side  of  the 
palisades  went  on  another  expedition  and  repaired  to  the  house 
(lately  known  by  the  name  of  Vaux  Hall)  now  in  the  occupation 
of  Major  James  of  the  Royal  Regiment  of  Artillery.  This 

371 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

gentleman  was  one  of  those  who  had  unfortunately  incurred 
the  resentment  of  the  public  by  expressions  imputed  to  him. 
It  is  said  he  had  taken  a lease  of  the  house  for  3 years,  and 
had  obliged  himself  to  return  it  in  the  like  good  order  as  he 
received  it.  It  had  been  lately  fitted  up  in  an  elegant  manner, 
and  had  adjoining  a large  handsome  garden  stored  with  both 
necessaries  and  curiosities,  and  had  in  it  several  summer 
houses.  The  house  was  genteelly  furnished  with  good  furni- 
ture; contained  a valuable  library  of  choice  books,  paper, 
accounts,  mathematical  instruments,  draughts,  rich  clothes, 
linen,  etc.,  and  a considerable  quantity  of  wine  and  other 
liquors.  The  multitude  bursting  open  the  doors,  proceeded  to 
destroy  every  individual  article  the  house  contained.  The 
beds  they  cut  open  and  threw  the  feathers  abroad ; broke  all 
the  glasses,  china,  tables,  desks,  chairs,  trunks,  chests;  and, 
making  a large  fire  at  a little  distance,  threw  in  everything 
that  would  burn;  drank  or  destroyed  all  the  liquor,  and  left 
not  the  least  article  in  the  house  which  they  did  not  entirely 
destroy.  After  which,  they  also  beat  to  pieces  all  the  doors, 
sashes,  window-frames  and  partitions  in  the  house,  leaving  it  a 
mere  shell ; also  destroyed  the  summer-houses  and  tore  up  and 
spoiled  the  garden.  All  this  destruction  was  completed  about 
2 o’clock.” 


“ Ferdinand,  a noble  dark  bay  stallion,  property  of 
Michael  Kearney.”  (1767.) 


372 


FASHION  AND  LUXURY 


Manners  and  customs  in  the  polite  society  in 
New  York  followed  closely  those  of  London.  All 
the  fads  and  changing  fancies  of  English  fashionable 
life  were  faithfully  reproduced  here.  These  were 
imported  with  other  up-to-date  luxuries.  The  New 
Yorker  could  always  become  acquainted  with  the 
folly  or  affectation  that  was  the  latest  London  thing 
in  manners  because  of  the  constant  stream  of  British 
officers  who  passed  through  this  port.  Moreover, 
many  sons  of  merchants  were  sent  to  Europe  to 
complete  their  education  and  see  the  world. 

As  wealth  and  luxury  increased,  the  number  of 
natives  who  travelled  abroad  for  business  or  pleasure 
multiplied.  The  consequent  alteration  in  their  man- 
ners and  morals  was  commented  on  in  print.  In 
i 754,  a subscriber  asked  an  editor  to  print  Gay’s  fable, 
The  Monkey  Who  Had  Seen  the  World , together  with 
the  subscriber’s  “ observations  on  the  bad  improve- 
ment of  travelling  on  some  of  our  New  York  Gentle- 
men.” lie  was  very  severe  on  the  latter.  “At  all 
places  they  boast  of  their  acquirements,”  said  he, 
“ which  are  so  mean  that  no  traveller  should  speak  of 
them  but  with  the  greatest  indifference,  nay,  con- 
tempt.” Thence  he  went  on  to  say  : 

“Condumanus,  who  has  not  long  since  visited  London, 
confined  all  his  speculations  there  to  Haddock’s  Bagnio,  Vaux- 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

hall,  Covent  Garden,  or  some  luxurious  seats  of  pleasure  . . . 
Guglio  can  boast  the  honour  of  having  been  several  times 
drunk  in  London.  He  has  there  improved  in  the  art  of  drink- 
ing, has  seen  the  King  and  Royal  Family ; has  been  in  St. 
Paul’s  ; can  tell  where  the  Tower  stands,  and  seen  some  things 
within  it ; has  heard  Garrick  act ; been  at  both  the  theatres, 
and  can  correct  the  errors  of  the  stage ; knows  how  the  actors 
should  strut ; when  in  a rage ; how  he  should  startle  and  trem- 
ble when  a ghost  appears ; how  he  should  singly  kick  up  his 
heels  when  he  makes  his  exit. 

“ Little  Clodis  Friskabout,  besides  all  these  improvements, 
has  many  others;  he  has  accomplished  himself,  if  we  may  be- 
lieve him,  in  all  the  arts  that  constitute  a complete  gentleman. 
He  has  eat  Otterlings,  Woodcocks  and  the  greatest  varieties  to 
be  got  for  money ; has  conversed  with  the  Gentlemen  of  the 
Inner  Temple;  has  been  present  at  balls  and  masquerades,  and 
distinguished  himself  there  in  that  most  polite  accomplishment, 
dancing,  whereof  he  is  now  complete  master.  He  can  move  a 
Minuet  after  the  newest  fashion  in  England ; can  quiver  like  a 
butterfly  ; is  a perfect  connoiseur  in  dress  ; and  has  been  author 
to  all  the  new  cock’t  hats  and  scratches  in  town  ; has  learnt 
the  art  of  address  from  the  gentility  of  Covent  Garden,  which, 
by  Jove,  he  swears  has  ruined  his  constitution.  Amongst  the 
accomplished  beaux,  he  has  learned  those  elegant  expressions, 
Split  me , Madam ; By  Gad ; Dam  me ; and  fails  not  to  use 
them  on  all  occasions.  So  entirely  is  he  taken  up  with  England, 
that  he  always  mentions  guineas  when  he  speaks  of  money. 
In  short,  he  values  himself  for  his  most  excellent  faculty  of 
expatiating  on  vices  never  in  his  power  to  commit,  and  rails  at 
every  virtue  ; swears  he  can  harangue  and  please  a lady  as 
well  as  any  man  of  them  all  ; and  take  a pinch  of  rappee  with 
as  graceful  flourish  as  a Frenchman.” 

About  the  middle  of  the  century,  wealth  and 
luxury  had  reached  such  a height  in  New  York  as 
to  raise  serious  protests  from  old-fashioned  citizens 
who  were  attached  to  solid  and  comfortable,  but  quiet 
and  unostentatious  living.  In  1734,  a writer  said  : 

374 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


“ Our  luxury  consists  more  in  an  expence  of  what  is  im- 
ported from  foreign  parts  than  what  is  of  own  growth  manufac- 
tories ; I am  credibly  informed  that  tea  and  china  ware  cost 
the  province,  yearly,  near  the  sum  of  ^10,000  ; and  people  that 
are  least  able  to  go  to  the  expence,  must  have  their  tea  tho’ 
their  families  want  bread.  Nay,  I am  told,  often  pawn  their 
rings  and  plate  to  gratifie  themselves  in  that  piece  of  extrava- 
gance.” 

In  1747,  another  wail  was  heard  in  a Burgomaster’s 
admonition  against  the  Prevalence  of  Luxury  : 

“ At  this  time,  the  furniture  and  expenses  of  every  trades- 
man now  equal  those  of  the  merchant  formerly ; those  of  the 
merchant  surpass  those  of  the  first  rate  gentleman  ; those  of  the 
gentleman,  the  old  lords,  &c.  All  other  nations  have  each  their 
favourite  luxury  ; as  the  Italian  his  pompous  palace,  the  French- 
man his  fine  suit,  the  Pole  his  splendid  equipage,  the  German 
his  capacious  cellar,  the  Spaniard  his  bead  roll  of  titles,  &c. 
But  our  taste  is  universal ; & there  is  scarce  a little  clerk 
among  us,  who  doth  not  think  himself  the  outcast  of  Provi- 
dence, if  not  enobled  by  his  salary,  fees,  etc.,  to  outlive  the 
rich  man  in  the  Gospel.” 

Two  years  later  also  there  is  the  following  similar 
complaint  : 

“ This  province  above  any  other  has  felt  the  miseries  of 
ignorance  and  they  still  remain  our  sorest  afflictions.  A sordid 
thirst  after  money  sways  the  lives  of  our  people  ; while  learn- 
ing and  all  the  arts  lie  dispised  and  neglected.  The  most 
insipid  dunces  crowd  into  preferments  and  office.  But  the 
want  of  education  reigns  (also)  in  every  art,  trade,  business 
and  character,  and  discovers  itself  in  a peculiar  manner  in  the 
various  companies  of  men  that  collect  themselves  into  weekly 
clubs  and  societies  in  several  parts  of  this  city.  Their  conver- 
sation turns  upon  the  most  trifling  subjects  ; a set  of  noisy  fops 
bluster  away  the  evening  in  a storm;  others  smoke  their  pipes 
with  a senseless  stupidity  ; some  impertinently  chat  away  whole 
hours  with  effeminate  observations  on  dress  and  the  ladies; 

375 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

others,  in  open  defiance  of  the  laws  of  decency  and  modesty, 
fling  out  the  most  fulsome  trash  that  has  neither  a tendency 
to  improve  or  divert  but  to  debauch  and  corrupt  the  mind, 
and  the  room  you  sit  in  resounds  perpetually  with  oaths  and 
curses. 

“There  is  not  to  be  found  but  one  set  of  men  whose  com- 
pany is  innocent  and  profitable.  These  gentlemen  have  de- 


Tortoiseshell  snuff-boxes,  vases  and  other  Eighteenth  Century  orna- 
ments ; originals  in  the  Museum  for  the  Art  of  Decoration,  Cooper 
Union. 

dared  themselves  enemies  to  nonsense  and  vice,  and  are  re- 
solved to  improve  the  taste  and  knowledge  and  to  reform  and 
correct  the  manners  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town.  They 
have  formed  themselves  into  a club,  and  meet  every  week  to 
discant  upon  learned  subjects  in  a private  apartment.” 

In  1773,  it  was  stated  that  “The  prevalence  and 
daily  increase  of  vice  and  immorality  of  every  kind 
among  us  are  too  evident  to  escape  the  notice  of  the 
most  superficial  observer,”  and  so  a number  of  gentle- 
men were  forming  the  American  Society  for  the  Pro- 

37b 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 

moting  Religious  Knowledge  among  the  Poor.  This 
was  surely  beginning  at  the  wrong  end  of  the  social 
ladder.  In  the  same  year,  a censor  of  public  morals 
complained  that  in  these  days  of  dissipation  and 
prodigality,  to  be  an  advocate  for  virtue  is  to  be 
deemed  sour  and  superstitious,  fashionable  vice  char- 
acterizes good  breeding,  liberality  results  more  from 
pride  than  benevolence,  and  confidence  and  audacity 
sully  the  bloom  of  youth.  He  continued:  “In  the 
days  of  our  forefathers,  when  decency  was  in  esteem, 
the  voice  of  love  seldom  escaped  in  whispers  from  the 
shelter  of  concealment,  and  delicacy  harmonized 
every  note.  Their  more  refined  posterity  disdain 
such  childish  coyness,  the  voice  of  love  grows  clamor- 
ous in  public  assemblies,  and  even  the  votaries  of 
Diana  permit  incense  to  be  offered  to  Venus  in  the 
deepest  recesses  of  their  consecrated  groves.  Are 
not  the  celestial  joys  of  holy  wedlock  daily  bartered 
for  titles,  feathers,  and  glittering  gold  ? ” 

In  another  article,  this  author  complains  that  the 
neglect  of  religion  has  become  a mark  of  politeness, 
and  that  those  who  stand  highest  in  the  community 
and  set  the  example  are  dishonourably  distinguished 
by  their  contemptuous  neglect  of  public  worship. 
It  seems  that  the  rising  generation  follows  this 
pernicious  example.  “ The  Lord’s  Day  is  now  dedi- 
cated by  them  to  scenes  of  jollity  and  dissipation,  and 
is  distinguished  from  the  other  parts  of  the  week  by 
nothing  more  than  by  the  freer  indulgence  of  riot 
and  every  species  of  excess.  Advancing  thus  to  man- 
hood, with  minds  habituated  to  luxury,  ignorant  of 
the  doctrines  of  religion,  and  unimbued  with  any 

3 77 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

principles  of  piety,  what  can  we  expect  but  that  the 
maturer  period  of  their  lives  will  present  us  with  a 
more  luxuriant  crop  of  intemperance  and  profanity?” 
The  writer  then  proceeds  to  denounce  the  Stage  and 
all  its  workers. 

In  the  fashionable  follies  of  the  day,  the  women 
certainly  did  not  lag  behind  the  men.  They  dressed 
magnificently,  directed  splendidly  appointed  houses, 
where  frequently  servants  waited  in  livery,  drove  in 
handsome  equipages,  and  sometimes  managed  busi- 
nesses of  their  own.  Afternoon  tea,  until  the  early 
days  of  the  Revolution,  was  always  an  important 
social  function  ; and  many  are  the  protests  heard 
against  the  excessive  use  of  this  herb.  In  1731,  an 
alarmist  wrote  to  one  of  the  papers  as  follows  : 

“ A real  Concern  for  my  Fellow  Creatures  makes  me  give 
you  this  Trouble.  I should  think  myself  happy  if  I could  per- 
suade them  from  a custom  of  a fatal  Consequence  (I  mean 
habitual  Tea-Drinking ) which  so  universally  prevails  among 
us.  Were  it  only  the  Consideration  of  so  much  expended  on 
what  is  absolutely  unnecessary,  it  would  not  give  me  much 
Concern,  and  I should  silently  lament  the  unaccountable  Fol- 
lies of  Human  kind;  But  when  not  only  their  Fortunes,  but 
their  Health  and  Happiness  are  in  Danger,  I think  it  my  Duty 
openly  to  forewarn  them,  and  endeavour  as  much  as  in  me  lies, 
to  prevent  their  Ruins.”  “ The  continual  pouring  into  the  Body 
such  quantities  of  what  (if  not  much  worse)  is  no  better  than 
Warm  Water  ” the  writer  considers  very  harmful.  “ Nor  does 
the  Body  suffer  alone,  the  Soul  also  is  hindered  in  the  free 
Performance  of  its  Functions  and  has  its  share  of  Disorder; 
Hence  that  Melancholy,  that  Heaviness,  that  Peevishness,  those 
unaccountable  Fancies,  those  groundless  Fears  and  Apprehen- 
sions ; in  short,  whatever  comes  under  the  Name  of  Spleen,  I may 
very  justly  charge  here;  nor  will  I acquit  this  Drug  from  lay- 
ing the  Foundation  of  many  other  Distempers  ” — He  also  fears 

378 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


that  “ the  fatal  Effects  of  this  Custom  are  entail’d  on  our  Pos- 
terity.” 

It  was  not  only  tea  that  roused  the  ire  of  our 
censor.  He  also  strongly  objected  to  what  he  called 
the  impertinent  custom  into  which  women  as  well  as 
men  had  fallen  of  taking  snuff.  If  he  did  not  exag- 
gerate, that  New  York  ladies  were  quite  as  advanced 
as  their  London  sisters  : 

“ This  silly  Trick  of  taking  Snuff  is  attended  with  such  a 
Cocquet  Air  in  some  young  (as  well  as  older)  Gentlewomen, 
and  such  a sedate  Masculine  one  in  others,  that  I cannot  tell 
which  most  to  complain  of,  but  they  are  to  me  equally  disa- 
greeable. Mrs.  Saunter  is  so  impatient  of  being  without  it, 
that  she  takes  it  as  often  as  she  does  Salt  at  Meals,  and  as  she 
affects  a wonderful  Ease  and  Negligence  in  all  Manners,  an 
upper  Lip  mixed  with  Snuff,  and  the  Sauce 
is  what  is  presented  to  the  Observation  of 
all  who  have  the  Honour  to  eat  with  her. 

The  pretty  Creature  her  Niece  does  all  she 
can  to  be  as  disagreeable  as  her  Aunt ; and 
if  she  is  not  as  offensive  to  the  Eye,  she  is 
quite  as  much  to  the  Ear,  and  makes  up  all 
she  wants  in  a confident  Air,  by  a nauseous 
Rattle  of  the  Nose  when  the  Snuff  is  deliv- 
ered, and  the  Fingers  make  the  Stops  and 
Closes  on  the  Nostrils. 

“ This,  perhaps,  is  not  a very  Courtly 
Image  in  speaking  of  Gentlewomen,  that  is 
very  true;  but  where  arises  the  Offence? 

Is  it  in  those  who  commit,  or  those  who 
observe  it  ? As  for  my  part,  I have  been  so 
extremely  disgusted  with  this  filthy  Physick  hanging  on  the  Lip> 
that  the  most  agreeable  Conversation,  or  Person,  has  not  been 
able  to  make  up  for  it.  As  to  those  who  take  it  for  pretty 
Action,  or  to  fill  up  little  Intervals  of  Discourse,  I can  bear  with 
them;  but  then  they  must  not  use  it  when  another  is  speaking, 

379 


Gold  snuff-box  be- 
longing to  the 
family  of  the  late 
James  de  Peyster. 
See  page  380. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


who  ought  to  be  heard  with  too  much  Respect,  to  admit  of  offer- 
ing at  that  Time  from  Hand  to  Hand  the  Snuff-Box.  But  Fla- 
villa  is  so  far  taken  with  her  Behaviour  in  this  kind  that  she 
pulls  out  her  Box  (which  is  indeed  full  of  good  Brazile)  in  the 
middle  of  the  Sermon  ; and  to  show  she  has  the  Audacity  of  a 
well-bred  Woman,  she  offers  it  to  the  Men  as  well  as  the  Women 
who  sit  near  her;  But  since  by  this  Time  all  the  World  knows 
she  has  a fine  Hand,  I am  in  hopes  she  may  give  herself  no 
further  Trouble  in  this  Matter.  On  Sunday  was  sevennight, 
when  they  came  about  for  the  Offering,  she  gave  her  Charity 
with  a very  good  Air,  but  at  the  same  Time  asked  the  Church- 
warden if  he  would  take  a Pinch.  Pray,  Sir,  think  of  these 
Things  in  Time.” 

Flavilla’s  snuff-box  may  have  resembled  one  ad- 
vertised for  in  1737:  “Lost,  or  mislaid,  (by  a lady) 
on  Saturday  last,  an  oval  gold  snuff-box  with  an 
Egyptian  pebble  top  (14  pistoles  reward  and  no  ques- 
tions asked).  If  offered  to  be  sold  or  pawned,  pray 
stop  it.”  A gold  snuff-box  of  the  period  is  shown  on 
page  379.  It  is  now  owned  by  the  family  of  the  late 
James  de  Peyster. 

During  the  year  1731,  the  ladies  made  several 
eomplaints  against  the  men  for  lack  of  due  attention. 
The  following  excerpt  from  this  controversy  will  show 
the  alleged  grievances  on  both  sides  : 

o o 

“ The  Court  for  Reformation  of  Manners  take  into  Con- 
sideration the  Hardships  of  those  who  desire  to  ‘ enter  the 
Conjugal  state  ’ and  complain  of  ‘their  Incapacity  to  imitate 
the  young  ladies  of  their  own  Rank,  in  their  inordinate  Love  of 
appearing  Polite.’ 

“ istly,  The  Court  observe,  That  the  Splendid  Appearance 
of  those  young  Ladies  who  affect  to  be  Polite,  is  to  the  great 
Discouragement  of  the  industrious  Petitioners. 

“ 2ndly,  That  these  Polite  young  Ladies  esteem  themselves 
above  the  addresses  of  their  Equals. 

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Manners,  Food  and  Culture 


“ 3dly,  That  the  said  Ladies  are  great  Admirers  of  Tea,  to 
the  utter  Confusion  of  the  distressed  Petitioners,  who  are  allto- 
gether  unacquainted  with  the  Ceremony  which  usually  pass  at 
the  Tea-Table;  which  Ignorance  of  theirs  makes  them  appear 
excessively  Awkward  and  Ridiculous. 

“ The  Court  accordingly  took  the  foregoing  grievances  into  Con- 
siderations,  and  give  their  Sentiments  and  Verdicts  as  follows. 

“ istly,  The  gay  and  darling  Appearance  of  these  Ladies  is 
partly  excusable  if  they  can  reasonably  afford  it,  being  justly 
commended  if  they  desire  to  attract  the  Affections  of  the 
Beaus,  who  mind  not  the  Inside  of  themselves  and  others,  so 
much  as  the  Outside. 

“The  Court  thinking  that  a strictly  fashionable  Beau  must 
have  a plentiful  stock  of  Money,  which  is  the  aim  of  these 
Ladies. 

“ 2dly,  The  severe  Treatment  which  these  Ladies  give  the 
Petitioners  is  highly  unpardonable,  seeing,  that  tho’  they  may 
be  more  knowing  in  some  trifling  Points  of  Politeness,  yet 
their  Fortune  and  perhaps  their  Common  sense  is  not  more 
extensive  than  the  slighted  Admirers;  but  the  Court  call  this 
scornful  Behaviour  nothing  but  an  over-valuing  themselves,  or 
in  plainer  Terms,  Pride  and  Vanity. 

“ 3dly,  The  sensible  Misfortune  which  the  Petitioners  lay 
under  in  being  utterly  ignorant  in  the  Ceremony  of  the  Tea- 
Table  (which  is  look’d  upon  as  a Point  of  great  Importance) 
we  shall  remedy  as  well  as  we  can,  it  being  impossible  to  root 
out  the  Custom  of  drinking  Tea  j we  therefore  propose  as  fol- 
lows, That  the  Petitioners  shall  collect  among  themselves  as 
much  Money  as  will  buy  a set  of  China  or  (if  they  should  be 
less  Extravagant)  Earthen  ware,  such  as  Cups,  Saucers,  Slop- 
Bason,  etc.,  proper  for  a modish  Tea-Table,  and  allow  a Salary 
to  any  young  Lady  who  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  its  coin- 
pleat  Decoromy  ; we  say,  let  them  employ  such  a skillful  Per- 
son to  teach  them  the  Laws,  Rules,  Customs,  Phrases  and 
Names  of  the  Tea  Utensils;  on  all  which  (by  a close  Applica- 
tion) they  may  soon  arrive  to  a great  Proficiency,  which  will 
certainly  render  them  polite  and  agreeable  to  those  whose 
Favour  they  solicite. 


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Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“ The  Court  having  laid  down  these  their  Sentiments, 
adjourned  till  such  Time  as,  more  grievances  call’d  their 
Attention.  Radamanthus,  Sec’ry. 

“The  Court  had  forgot  to  inform  the  Petitioners,  that  tak- 
ing of  Snuff  will  wonderfully  influence  their  desired  Success.” 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  masculine 
woman  had  just  come  into  vogue.  She  evidently 
had  made  her  appearance  in  New  York.  In  1732, 
the  following  description  was  reproduced  here  from 
a London  periodical  : 

“ In  days  of  yore  for  a lady  to  be  dressed  like  a woman,  to 
speak  and  act  like  a woman  was  thought  decent ; but  now  the 
case  is  much  altered.  I went  once  to  visit  Stradella,  and 
found  her  with  a napkin  Cap  on  her  head,  made  up  like  a 
Man’s,  with  her  Hands  behind  her,  whistling  and  trying  in  how 
many  Paces  she  could  measure  the  Room.  She  turned  upon 
her  Heel  and  extending  her  right  Hand,  gave  me  a friendly 
shake  and  saluted  me  with  How  dost  old  Hall  Hast  break- 
fasted? Wilt  have  Tea , Coffee  or  a Dram  of  N ant z ? I chose 
Coffee.  Here , says  she,  Get's  a Pot  immediately  j let  the  Groom 
bring  the  Horses  to  the  Door , and  see  my  Pistols  are  well  Primed. 
But  our  Ladies  don’t  intend  to  stop  here.  Bob  Brawney  has 
received  some  Love  Letters  from  more  than  one,  and  Mr. 
Maidly  has  been  smartly  rally’d  in  two  or  three  for  his  bash- 
fulness. But  is  it  not,  dear  Sfee,  (to  be  somewhat  serious)  a 
melancholy  Reflection  that  our  Females  are  Women  at  12  or 
13;  Men  at  18;  and  very  Girls  at  50  or  60?  That  we  find 
almost  a universal  Contempt  of  Religion  and  Economy  in  the 
Fair  Sex  and  all  Virtue  is  turned  to  Ridicule.  This  vitiated 
Taste,  so  prevalent  in  Town,  spreads  itself  into  the  Country.” 

The  Duchess  of  Gordon,  who  visited  this  country 
with  her  husband  Staats  Long  Morris  in  1769,  was 
evidently  very  much  in  the  fashion  ; she  was  long  re- 
membered for  her  masculine  dress  and  manners  as 
well  as  for  her  good  heart.  Her  husband  had  title  to 

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Manners , Food  and  Culture 

a large  tract  of  land  in  Otsego  Co.,  New  York,  and 
she  went  with  him  in  1 769  on  a visit  to  inspect  it, 
travelling  on  horseback  from  the  Hudson  river  near 
Catskill  westward  through  the  unpeopled  wilderness 
to  the  Susquehanna  river. 

In  1 734,  a contributor  objected  to  women  taking 
so  much  active  interest  in  politics.  He  protested  : 

“ As  many  of  your  Readers  are  of  the  Female  Sex,  I hope 
they  won’t  take  it  ill,  if  they  should  be  told  that  Politicks  is 
what  does  not  become  them ; the  Governing  Kingdoms  and 
Ruling  Provinces  are  Things  too  Difficult  and  Knotty  for  the 
fair  Sex ; it  will  render  them  grave  and  serious  and  take  off 
those  agreeable  Smiles  that  should  always  accompany  them. 
It  is  with  the  utmost  concern  that  I daily  see  Numbers  of  Fair 
Ladies  contending  about  some  abstruce  Point  in  Politicks,  and 
running  into  the  greatest  Heats  about  they  know  not  what  .... 

“ And  what  I think  still  worse,  is,  they  can’t  help  shewing 
their  Resentments  in  the  publick  Streets.  The  other  day  I saw 
one  of  the  Courtiers  walking  along  the  streets,  and  being 
obliged  to  pass  by  the  Door  of  one  of  the  Contrary  Party,  she 
speaks  to  her  Children,  who  were  with  her,  that  at  their  Perils 
they  should  not  bow  when  they  pass’d  by  such  a Door,  and 
when  she  got  home  could  not  help  exulting  at  that  great  Mark 
of  Disrespect  that  she  had  shewn  and  how  pretty  the  Children 
had  behaved.” 

A contributor  to  a newspaper  in  1735,  admitting 
that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  seeking  “ a dish  of  tea 
with  some  one  of  my  female  acquaintance  after  the 
busy  hours  of  the  day  are  over,”  called  one  afternoon 
upon  a lady,  and  was  surprised  to  find  a “large  Com- 
pany of  agreeable  women  between  the  ages  of  fifteen 
and  fifty.”  This  really  seems  to  have  been  a sort  of 
woman’s  club,  for  one  of  them  took  the  great  chair 
and  discussed  with  the  others  the  Ilunc  Over  De  Club, 

383 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

kept  every  Tuesday  evening  at  four  houses  in  the 
city.  Several  of  the  women  present  gave  their  opin- 
ions regarding  this  club.  One  young  lady  thought  it 
would  be  wise  to  advise  “ the  young  gentlemen  of 
the  town  to  think  more  of  their  Belles  and  less  of 
their  Bottles.” 

Women’s  clubs  of  some  kind  undoubtedly  existed 
here  during  our  period.  In  1747,  a scribbler,  who 
signs  himself  Kursonius  addresses  some  verses  : 

“ TO  THE  OFFICIOUS  LADIES  OF  THE  FEMALE  CLUB 

“ From  envious  tales  and  idle  life  refrain, 

And  save  your  censur’d  reputation  ; 

You  yet  may  shine ; esteem  once  more  regain, 

And  grace  your  predecessors’  nation.* 

With  others’  business  never  interfere, 

Nor  more  such  jealousy  discover  ; 

And  at  the  end  of  one  probative  year 
I promise  each  good  nymph  a lover. 

“ Kursonius.” 

However,  for  this  he  speedily  did  penance  with 
the  following  apology  : “ Several  ladies  having  taken 
the  verses  addressed  to  the  officious  ladies  of  the 
Female  Club  in  Mr.  De  Forest’s  paper  of  the  third  of 
August  to  be  meant  for  them,  Kursonius  humbly  begs 
their  pardon.”  Kursonius  probably  would  have  got 
into  sad  trouble  if  he  had  not  recanted,  for  the  respect 
for  the  sex  here  was  almost  a superstition  in  as  far  as 
lip-service  was  concerned,  and  many  champions  were 
always  ready  to  rush  into  print  in  their  cause. 

Notwithstanding  the  protests,  there  was  a good 
deal  of  satire  written  upon  fashionable  follies  and 

* France. 

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Manners , Food  and  Culture 

those  who  adopted  them.  In  176 7,  a native  versifier 
writes  : 

“ TO  THE  LADIES.— ON  THE  PRESENT  FASHION  OF  NOT 
DRESSING  THEIR  HEADS 


“ With  hair  so  long,  so  lank,  so  sleek, 
Which  not  a comb  composes, 

Why  do  you  hide  your  brow  and  cheek, 
And  hardly  spare  your  noses  ? 

Say,  ye,  in  whom  each  worth  appears, 
Adorned  by  all  the  graces, 

What  makes  you  thus,  my  pretty  dears, 
Ashamed  to  show  your  faces  ? " 


To  this,  on  the  following  week,  a lady  replied  : 

“ Presumptuous  Man,  to  slander  prone, 

Whose  verse  thy  name  disgraces  ! 


What  demon  whispered  we  were  grown 
Ashamed  to  show  our  faces  ? 

In  perfect  pity  to  mankind, 

We  veiled  us  for  a season  : 

Unmask,  my  girls,  he’ll  quickly  find 
That  pity  was  the  reason.” 


Portraits  of  two  of  the  social  leaders  of  the  day, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walton,  appear  on  pages  294  and  297. 
Their  home  has  been  described  on  page  69. 


“ Runaway  Negro  Slave.”  (1767.) 


26 


385 


VI 


EXTRAVAGANCE  AND  A RETURN  TO  SIMPLICITY 

The  luxury  and  frivolities  of  some  of  the  wealthy 
sometimes  caused  grave  offence  to  the  staid  old-fash- 
ioned class,  and  the  voice  of  the  censor  and  moralist 
was  frequently  heard.  If  we  may  believe  a writer  in 
1739,  society  in  New  York  was  going  to  the  dogs.  It 
seems  that  a cousin  of  his  had  rudely  passed  him  in 
the  street  without  acknowledging  his  salutation  : 

“ Let  us  then  consider  the  reason  why  there  is  so  much 
pride  to  be  found  in  most  of  the  young  ladies  of  this  town, 
which  may  be  inquired  into  by  looking  into  the  manner  of  their 
education  on  from  their  infancy  to  years  of  discretion.  This 
may  be  done  by  looking  into  that  of  my  cousin’s,  who  may  pass 
as  a sample  of  the  rest. 

“This  young  woman  is  now  in  her  18th  year;  during  her 
infancy  till  the  age  of  five  years,  young  miss  was  not  to  be 
teased  with  learning,  as  being  of  an  age  too  tender  to  undergo 
the  hard  task  of  A.  B.  C.  Mama  pretends  that  loading  her 
memory  when  so  young  may  be  of  dangerous  effects  to  the 
child,  that  the  dear  little  creature  must  have  her  will  in  every- 
thing. The  maids  must  be  drubbed,  the  great  booby  of  a 
brother  hold  his  head  in  his  mother’s  lap  to  let  his  little  sister 
twitch  his  hair,  the  lap  dog  must  be  beaten  and  turned  out  of 
doors,  the  monkey  cuffed,  and,  in  short,  the  father  called  dog 
and  good  for  nothing. 

“ Miss  is  now  past  5 years  and  sole  mistress  of  her  father’s 
house.  If  she  can  be  taught  to  read,  story  books,  in  Mama’s 
opinion,  are  now  proper  to  tickle  her  little  fancy.  Prayer 
books  ’tis  true  ought  to  be  read  by  children,  but  her  daughter’s 

386 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


temper  is  such  that  she  cannot  take  to  them,  a little  romance 
would  please  the  child  much  better,  her  inclinations  are  merry 
and  a child  of  her  age  ought  to  be  humoured. 

“ She’s  now  ten  years  of  age,  her  mind  is  ripe  for  plays. 
Here  is  again  a noble  field  of  vanity  presented  to  madam,  her 
mind  is  wholly  taken  up  with  the  pleasures  it  affords,  and  an 
actress’s  part  repeated  by  heart  yields  greater  joy  to  her  parents 
than  if  she  knew  the  whole  Catechism. 

“ Her  eleventh  year  draws  on  : it  is  now  full  time  she 
should  appear  in  the  world.  Stand  by,  every  brother’s  part  in 
the  father’s  estate ! Head-dresses,  masks,  necklaces,  gloves, 
patches,  fans,  shoes,  girdles,  rings,  with  many  other  beguiling 
things,  whereby  many  of  our  sex  are  tempted  to  enter  their 
snares; — all  this  while  no  manner  of  religion  is  going  forward. 
The  young  lady’s  days  are  passed  in  receiving  and  paying  visits ; 
her  nights  at  balls  and  masquerades,  or  at  cards  and  dice.  The 
father  thinks  to  gain  a rich  husband  by  equipping  her  after  a 
manner  superior  to  her  rank,  and  the  mother  for  her  part  very 
willingly  conceives  the  father’s  folly  will  one  day  tend  to  the 
child’s  good.  Miss  now,  according  to  the  nature  of  her  sex, 
thinks  it  time  to  display  her  grandeur,  everything  insipid  in 
itself  appears  beautiful  to  her.  A sap-headed  beau  in  her 
opinion  has  all  the  charms  that  were  ever  bestowed  on  the 
lordly  creature  Man,  but  a native  of  the  place,  and,  above  all, 
a relation,  will  never  be  able  to  attain  to  the  perfections  visible 
in  one  of  foreign  parts.  It  cannot  be,  for  when  they  appear  in 
courtly  habits,  they  do  not  become  them,  they  are  clumsy  in 
them,  and  all  their  ways  are  affected  and  foolish.  On  the  con- 
trary, when  they  appear  in  company  with  clothes  becoming  a 
merchant,  they  are  monsters  filled  with  covetousness,  beasts 
undeserving  the  happiness  of  her  conversation,  the  favour  of 
her  smiles,  or  the  honour  of  her  company.  O ! Pride,  thou  art 
now  in  all  thy  glory,  Virtue  can  no  more  face  thee,  Innocence 
is  a scandal  to  thee,  and  the  remembrance  of  poor  relations 
are  wounds  too  painful  for  thy  tender  frame  to  bear. 

“The  young  lady  being  now  come  to  years  of  discretion  is 
certainly  too  well  founded  in  the  paths  of  idleness  and  vice  to 
oppose  the  one  with  industry  and  the  other  by  a glorious  ex- 

38; 


Verms  Martin  box,  sewing-birds,  candlesticks,  reel  for  silks,  and  punch-ladle  with  ebony  handle  ; originals  in  the 

Museum  for  the  Art  of  Decoration,  Cooper  Union. 

See  page  335. 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


ample  of  virtue,  and  may  perhaps  (as  by  experience  is  often 
found)  be  the  ruin  of  her  relations,  the  disgrace  of  her  country, 
and  the  destruction  of  her  own  soul.” 

The  editor  adds  that  he  is  very  apt  to  think  that 
this  is  nothing  but  truth  “since  I myself  have  ob- 
served that  the  young  maidens  of  York  and  Flushing 
have  not  half  the  good  qualities  that  they  were  blessed 
with  in  the  years  1710  and  1711.” 

Affairs  of  the  heart  and  the  business  of  getting  a 
husband  formed  quite  as  important  parts  of  fashion- 
able life  as  they  do  to-day.  In  a town  where  every 
energy  was  devoted  to  money-making,  a portionless 
maiden  had  small  chance  of  making  a desirable  match. 
The  gay  young  English  officers  and  merchants  were 
fortune-hunters  in  many  instances,  and  the  native 
New  Yorker  was  accustomed  to  go  where  money  is. 
A prize  in  one  of  the  many  lotteries  sometimes  gave 
a poor  maiden  an  advantage  over  her  sisters,  and 
therefore  tickets  could  always  be  sold  to  the  ladies. 
In  1747,  a lady  “whose  hopes  of  getting  a husband 
by  a fortune  in  a lottery  had  been  disappointed,  draws 
up  a Charitable  Lottery — a bill  for  the  relief  of  the 
distressed  widows  and  maidens  of  the  City  and  Prov- 
ince of  New  York.” 

“ Whereas , by  the  great  and  melancholy  disuse  of  holy 
matrimony  in  this  city  & province,  an  infinite  number  of  His 
Majesty’s  good  & loving  female  subjects  remain  widows,  and 
others  are  left  upon  the  hands  of  their  parents  in  the  unnatural 
state  of  virginity,  to  the  grievous  prejudice  of  the  Common- 
wealth, the  insupportable  burden  of  private  families,  & the  un- 
speakable concern,  affliction  & grief  of  the  said  females.  And 

“ Whereas  all  ordinary  methods  to  prevent  or  remedy  so  great 
& growing  an  evil,  have  hitherto  proved  ineffectual: 

389 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

“ Wherefore , for  the  better  hindrance  thereof  for  the  future 
& for  the  necessary  & due  encouragement  of  propagation, 
which  we  ought  more  particularly  now  in  time  of  war  to  pro- 
mote & attend  to,  It  is  prayed  that  it  may  be  enacted;  and 

“ Be  it  enacted  &c.  That  all  the  widows  & virgins  of  the  City 
& Province  aforesaid,  from  the  age  of  15  to  50  may  & shall  be 
disposed  of  by  lottery,  in  the  following  manner,  that  is  to  say , 

“ Every  unmarried  male  person  of  the  age  aforesaid,  in  this 
city  & province,  that  shall  be  allowed  & approved  of  as  proper 
adventurers  in  this  lottery  shall  give  in  their  names  & take  out 
each  one  ticket  for  which  he  shall  pay  the  sum  of  jQ 5 : And 

that  every  widow  & virgin  shall  & may  each  put  in  their  names 
gratis. 

“ The  great  prizes  are  to  be  two  fortunes  of  £5000  each ; 
10  of  ^1500;  4 of  ^2000;  20  of  ;£iooo;  40  of  ^500;  50  of 
^200  ; and  100  of  ^100  each.  The  second  prizes  are  Beauties 
in  Number  200;  Pretty  girls,  100;  Widows,  500;  Agreeables, 
200;  Good  conditioned,  400;  Wits,  10;  and  Housewives,  5. 
The  lowest  prizes  are,  Women  of  Fashion  & Good-breeding, 
100;  Good  card-players,  200;  Misses  of  General  Accomplish- 
ments, 50;  Friskies,  50;  Special  Breeders,  500;  and  Saints  of 
the  First  Magnitude,  150.  And  in  the  list  of  blanks  are  com- 
prehended all  the  females  of  this  city  & province  unmarried 
within  the  age  aforesaid. 

“And  Whereas  the  principal  objections  against  lotteries  are 
the  draining  the  poor  of  their  money,  and  discouraging  trade 
and  industry  ; 

“Be  it  provided,  That  in  this  present  lottery  no  man  shall  be 
permitted  to  take  a ticket  who  is  not  worth  ^500,  unless  it  be 
such  useless  and  idle  persons,  who  do  little  or  nothing  else  all 
day  but  stroll  up  & down  the  streets  with  a pipe  in  their  mouths 
smoking;  & with  respect  to  all  such,  it  is  hereby  declared  that 
they  shall  serve  their  country  this  way,  seeing  that  they  are  or 
will  be  of  no  other  use  to  the  community. 

“And  be  it  further  enacted — that  whatsoever  any  man  shall 
draw,  whether  blank  or  prize,  good  or  bad,  he  shall  be  obliged 
to  husband  & keep  the  same;  whereby  this  City  & Province 
will  be  relieved  & discharged  of  all  the  present  widows  and  vir- 

39° 


Manners , Food  and  Culture 


gins,  & of  their  doleful  complaints,  & the  births,  in  all  proba- 
bility, increased  to  near  one  half  the  number  this  ensuing  year. 

“And  be  it  further  enacted — That  in  order  to  prevent  any  dis- 
putes & quarrels  that  may  arise  about  fixing  the  value  of  the 
inestimable  prizes,  it  is  hereby  declared  that  the  Beauties  shall 
be  settled  by  the  members  of  the  Chit  Chat  Club,  and  the  Pretties 
& Agreeables  shall  be  rated  by  the  number  of  their  lovers,  the 
Wits  by  the  number  of  their  enemies,  and  the  Widows  by  their 
admirers — 

“ And  Whereas  some  ill-affected  & seditious  persons,  gen- 
erally known  by  the  name  of  Old  Bachelors , who  omit  no  oppor- 
tunity of  aspersing  the  administration,  may  go  about  to  repre- 
sent this  act  as  an  attempt  to  introduce  arbitrary  power  here  in 
the  plantations,  by  putting  a grevious  yoke  on  the  necks  of  His 
Majesty’s  subjects  residing  in  this  province;  it  is  hereby  de- 
clared that  there  is  nothing  in  this  present  act  contrary  to 
Magna  Charta,  or  the  Petition  of  Rights. — And  it  is  hereby 
further  declared,  That  no  persons,  except  old  debauchees 
& bachelors  above  thirty  shall  be  compelled  to  take  a ticket, 
but  only  advised  & exhorted  thereto,  (if  they  can  show  any 
good  cause  or  lawful  impediment  against  it.)  And  no  person 
shall  take  more  than  one  ticket,  except  C-n-c-ll-rs,  M-m-b-rs 
of  the  G-n-r-1  Ass-m-bly,  J-dg-es,  J-st-c-s  of  the  P— c,  M-y-rs, 
R-c-rd-rs  & Ald-r-m-n,  Sailors  & Soldiers,  who  are  hereby  al- 
lowed two,  in  case  they  do  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Man- 
agers that  one  will  not  serve  their  turn. 

“ And  forasmuch  as  Betty  Tiptoe,  Spinster,  trusting  too 
much  to  her  beauty,  wit  & good  fortune,  & not  having  the  fear 
of  Virginity  before  her  eyes,  has  refused  diverse  good  offers, 
& merely  out  of  wantonness  & disdain,  has  showed  a cruel  de- 
light in  the  pains  and  sufferings  of  her  admirers;  it  is  there- 
fore thought  proper  to  make  an  example  of  her,  by  not  admit- 
ting her  into  the  number  of  prizes  in  this  present  lottery. 

uA?id  Whereas  difficulties  & disputes  may  possibly  arise 
about  determining  in  what  rank  of  the  prizes  Kitty  Woundall, 
Miss  Blowsabout,  Sally  Prim,  the  Widow  Cantwell  & Miss  Hyd- 
den  should  be  placed,  whether  among  the  Beauties , the  Pretties , 
or  the  Agreeables , they  each  claiming  all  three,  to  prevent  con- 

391 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

fusion  & save  the  public  needless  trouble,  they  are  hereby  de- 
sired to  choose  for  themselves,  as  they  shall  like  best,  any  one 
of  the  said  three  ranks,  but  no  more.” 

In  1 735,  another  distressed  lady,  who  signed  herself 
Mrs.  Nameless,  wrote  to  the  editor  asking  for  advice 
since  she  was  over  head  and  ears  in  love. 

“ But  Custom  and  the  Modesty  of  my  own  Sex  forbids  me 
to  reveal  it  to  the  Dear  Man  I adore.  I have  often  thought  of 
discovering  it  by  Letter,  but  I know  the  Vanity  of  the  Sex  so 
well,  that  I may  depend  upon  being  dispised  the  Moment  I do  it. 
With  my  Eyes  I have  often  spoke,  and  my  Tongue  has  very  near 
betrayed  me;  but  the  Dear  Charming  Man  seems  not  to  mind 
what  I say  or  do,  tho’  I fancy  if  he  could  Imagine  how  dearly  I 
loved  him,  he  would  love  me  to  the  greatest  Excess.  How  to 
discover  my  Passion  is  the  greatest  Difficulty  I now  labour 
under.  I have  at  Church  look’d  him  full  in  the  Face  ; and  when 
I had  drawn  his  Eyes  blusht  as  red  as  fire,  whene’er  he  sees  that 
sign  he  may  be  sure,  that  is  the  Lady  that  has  fixt  her  Affec- 
tions. I could  describe  my  seat  in  the  Church,  but  I dread  to 
make  it  too  plain ; my  Habits  I sometimes,  nay  often,  Change, 
and  could  I Change  my  Sex  till  I made  my  Passion  known,  I 
would  not  be  a Moment  from  the  Person  I doat  on  ; But  that 
is  as  impossible  as  a contented  Mind  at  this  Juncture.” 

It  was  customary  in  fashionable  circles  to  be  mar- 
ried by  license  in  the  evening  at  the  home  of  the 
bride’s  father.  When  retrenchment  and  simplicity  of 
all  kinds  were  cultivated  after  the  Stamp  Act,  wed- 
ding and  funeral  expenses  and  parade  were  greatly 
cut  down.  In  December,  1765,  therefore,  a wedding 
among  people  of  wealth  by  publication  of  bans  was 
worth  a special  notice  : 

“We  are  credibly  informed  that  there  were  married  last 
Sunday  evening  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Auchmuty,  a very  respectable 
couple  that  had  been  published  at  three  different  times  in 
Trinity  Church.  A laudable  example  and  worthy  to  be  fol- 

392 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 

lowed.  If  this  decent,  and  for  many  reasons  proper,  method 
of  publication  were  once  generally  to  take  place,  we  should 
hear  no  more  of  clandestine  marriages,  and  save  the  expence 
of  licences,  no  inconsiderable  sum  these  hard  and  distressing 
times.” 

In  announcing  the  wedding,  the  papers  always 
had  something  complimentary  to  say  of  the  bride,  as 
in  the  following  instances  in  1759  : 

“ Saturday  night,  Mr.  John  Lawrence  of  this  city,  merchant, 
was  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Livingston,  daughter  of  the 
Hon.  Philip  Livingston,  Esq. ; late  of  this  city,  deceased,  a very 
agreeable  young  lady  with  a handsome  fortune.” 

“Wednesday  night  last,  Mr.  Thomas  Marston,  son  of  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Marston,  merchant,  of  this  city,  was  married  to  Miss 
Kitty  Lispenard,  daughter  of  Leonard  Lispenard,  Esq.  ; of  this 
place,  merchant  also;  a most  agreeable  young  lady  possessed 
of  all  those  good  accomplishments  that  render  the  married  state 
completely  happy.” 

In  1774,  Thomas  Moncrieff  married  the  very 
amiable  Miss  Helena  Barclay  at  her  father’s  house 
in  Wall  Street.  “ Immediately  after  the  ceremony, 
they  set  out  for  their  country  retirement  on  Long 
Island.”  This  wedding  took  place  in  the  morning, 
doubtless  on  account  of  the  journey. 

New  Yorkers  were  extremely  fond  of  pets.  A 
great  number  of  advertisements  of  lost  dogs  appeared. 
Various  breeds  are  described.  In  1 730,  the  Governor’s 
dog,  a large  young  mastiff,  was  lost  ; in  1 734,  a slave 
ran  away  with  a “ black  shock  dog,  cropt  ears,  his  Tail 
docked  very  short”;  in  1 763,  someone  lost  a small 
bitch  puppy,  named  “ Sylvia.”  This  was  a spaniel 
with  a dark  brown  body  and  short  tail.  In  1769, 
Lord  Rosehill  lost  his  “small  black  and  white 


27 


393 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

Dog  of  King  Charles’s  breed,  for  which  he  offered 
twenty  shillings;  and  in  1 773,  another  dog-lover  lost 
“ his  liver  and  white  pointer  ” that  “ answers  to  the 


Silver  salver  owned  by  Frederic  J.  de  Peyster,  Esq.  See  page  141. 

name  of  Ponto.”  In  1769,  Mr.  Deas,  the  peruke- 
maker  wants  “a  dog  of  the  true  Newfoundland  breed, 
young  and  of  the  largest  size.” 

Birds  were  also  kept  as  pets.  Parrots  were  fa- 
vourites, for  the  constant  importations  of  parrot  cages 
and  the  advertisements  of  the  same  by  the  local  bra- 

394 


Manners,  Food  and  Culture 

ziers  indicate  a demand  for  them.  In  1759,  we  read 
that  James  Bernard,  inn-keeper  at  King’s  Bridge,  had 
“ to  dispose  of  a large  collection  of  Canary  Birds  in  full 
plumage  and  song.  Those  Gentlemen  and  Ladies 
that  spoke  some  time  ago  to  him  for  Canary  Birds  by 
favouring  him  with  a Line  where  they  may  be  sent, 
can  now  be  supplied.”  The  aforesaid  Mr.  Deas  ad- 
vertised for  some  “ Virginia  Nightingales  and  other 
curious  Birds  ” in  1 769. 


CONCLUSION 

In  the  foregoing  pages,  an  endeavour  has  been 
made  to  let  old  citizens  of  Georgian  New  York  speak 
for  themselves  in  showing  us  the  houses  they  lived  in, 
the  gardens  they  laid  out,  the  fruits  and  flowers  they 
enjoyed,  the  clothes  they  wore  and  the  food  they  ate, 
as  well  as  their  sports  and  pastimes,  their  accomplish- 
ments, amusements,  gaieties,  and  entertainments. 

Before  the  Colonies  threw  off  the  British  yoke, 
we  have  seen  that  visitors,  as  well  as  natives  of  New 
York,  were  struck  by  one  characteristic  of  the  citizens 
that  was  particularly  noticeable  in  those  days  as  now. 
This  was  the  race  for  wealth.  New  York  before  the 
Revolution  was  always  a money-making  and  pleasure- 
loving  town.  Luxuries  were  brought  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth  to  satisfy  the  tastes  of  prosperous  New 
York  people.  Their  homes  were  appointed  with 
every  convenience  and  they  dwelt  in  a delightful  set- 
ting of  meadows  and  woods,  with  a water  frontage 
unsurpassed  anywhere  else  in  the  world.  There  was 

395 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 

breathing  space  then,  and  the  view  from  one  man’s 
windows  was  not  interrupted  by  the  house  of  his 
neighbour. 

We  can  imagine  the  amazement  with  which  one  of 
the  old  citizens  would  regard  modern  conditions.  The 
buildings  that  now  cover  the  lower  end  of  the  island 
like  monster  packing-cases  piled  into  the  sky  would 
stupefy  him.  The  old  idea  of  the  possibilities  of 
the  future  is  well  exemplified  by  an  advertisement  of 
1775,  in  which  a Mrs.  Shuckber  wants  to  sell  two 
houses  and  grounds  on  Broadway,  near  Trinity 
Church.  She  says  “ the  main  lot  extends  two  hun- 
dred feet  into  the  river.  There  is  a full  view  from 
the  lot  (that  can  never  be  obstructed)  of  the  bay  down 
to  the  Narrows  and  of  the  passage  across  the  river  to 
and  from  Powles  Hook.”  If  the  lady  could  revisit  the 
scene,  her  comments  would  be  decidedly  interesting. 

The  glitter  and  parade  of  fashionable  life  faded 
out  for  a time  with  the  Revolution.  Before  the 
actual  fighting  began,  we  find  associations  formed  for 
a simpler  and  more  economical  mode  of  life  ; and 
what  still  remained  of  extravagance  and  wild  gaiety 
finally  took  its  departure  with  the  Loyalists.  The 
Continental  Congress  had  made  a voluntary  self-denial 
of  all  the  vanities  of  sport  at  the  beginning  of  the 
struggle. 

On  looking  back  over  the  social  history  of  the 
town,  we  see  that  the  general  character  of  its  inhabit- 
ants has  changed  very  little,  and  that  the  New  York 
of  to-day  is  very  similar  in  spirit  to  that  of  the  period 
here  reviewed. 


396 


INDEX 


Accidents,  shooting,  261-2. 

Act  of  Continental  Congress,  271. 
Acts,  laws  and  ordinances,  7-14, 
17-18. 

Act  to  preserve  game,  261. 

Adams,  William,  366. 

Afternoon  tea,  378. 

Agar,  Edward,  206. 

Agate-ware,  130-131. 

Alamode,  230. 

Ale,  353. 

Alexander,  Catherine,  304. 

, James,  73,  303. 

, Mrs.  James,  house  of,  73-76. 

, — , shop  goods  of,  76. 

, — , will  of,  73-75- 

Alligator,  exhibition  of,  320. 

Alms  house,  37. 

American  Society  for  Promoting 
Religious  Knowledge  among 
the  Poor,  376-377. 

Amherst,  Sir  Jeffrey,  ball  of,  308. 
Anburey,  quoted,  7. 

Anchovies,  363. 

Animals,  exhibitions  of,  319-322. 
Annerly,  Edward,  25. 

Anstey,  quoted,  182-3,  204,  240- 
241. 

Aprons,  221. 

Arne,  288,  298. 

Artists,  332-334. 

Ash,  Gilbert,  80,  298. 

Assembly,  Dancing,  301. 

Auction  sales,  84-87. 

Bachelor,  Protest  of  a,  172-174. 
Backgammon,  265. 


| Bag-wigs,  176. 

Bakers,  365-366. 

Balconies,  6,  29-30. 

Balls,  301,  304-308,  31 1. 

Barclay,  Helena,  393. 

Bardin,  Edward,  367. 

Barge,  Gov.  Montgomerie’s,  86. 
Basins,  141. 

Bass,  351. 

Bateman,  tragedy  of  Young,  316, 
317-318. 

Battledores  and  Shuttlecocks, 
265. 

Bayard,  Nicholas,  95,  363. 

, country  seat  of,  42-43. 

Bayard’s  Woods,  262. 

Beau,  The,  171. 

Beau  Nash,  221. 

Beaux,  behaviour  of,  373-374. 
Beaux  Stratagem,  The,  283. 

Beck,  Joseph,  226. 

Bed,  The,  103-107. 

curtains,  104-106. 

rooms,  105-108. 

side  carpet,  106. 

steps,  106. 

Bedloe’s  Island,  45. 

Beekman  house,  Rural  Cove,  122. 
Beekman  jar  and  beakers,  121- 
122. 

Beekman’s  Swamp,  15. 

Beer,  353. 

Beggars’  Opera,  The,  275. 

Bell,  George,  122. 

Bellomont,  Lord,  55. 

Belton,  Mrs.,  335. 

Biferi,  Nicholas,  296-297,  299,  330. 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Birthdays.  Kings’,  304-307. 
Blankets,  103. 

Boats,  Pleasure,  265. 

Bonnets,  212,  215,  216. 

Bonnin,  Mr.,  shows  of,  322-323. 
Book-binder,  338. 

Books,  337-33 9- 
Bowling-Green,  18. 

Bowls,  265. 

Boyd,  Elizabeth,  248. 

Bradford,  William,  337. 
Brass-ware,  161-162. 

Braziers,  161-162. 
Breeches-patterns,  190-193. 
Breeze,  Sidney,  164,  236. 

Bricks,  33,  34. 

Bridges,  46. 

Bridge  Street,  15. 

Brinner,  John,  79,  96-97. 

Broad  Street,  15. 

Broadway,  18. 

Brock,  Mrs.,  365. 

Bruff,  Charles  O.,  252,  253-4. 
Buckles,  146,  193,  254-255. 
Buffalo,  321. 

Buildings,  37. 

Bull-baiting,  267. 

Burgher’s  Path,  46,  357. 

Burnaby,  quotation  from,  350-351. 
Burnet,  Governor,  55. 

, — , china  of,  121. 

, — , musical  instruments  of, 

293- 

, — , possessions  of,  61-63. 

, — , wines  of,  353. 

Burras,  Benjamin,  223. 

Butchers,  358-360. 

Butter,  357,  360. 

Button-makers  Jest-Book , The,  190. 
Buttons,  190-193,  254-255. 

Cabinet-makers,  79-83. 

Cabinets,  122. 

Cabriole,  The,  216. 


Calash,  The,  218. 

Callimanco,  230. 

Callow,  Stephen,  80. 

Canaries,  395. 

Candelabra,  142. 

Candlesticks,  142-143. 

Capers,  363. 

Caps,  212,  213,  215,  217,  218. 
Capuchine,  214.  223. 

Cardinal,  223-224. 

Cards,  265. 

Carpets,  95-96. 

Carroll,  Mrs.  Thomas,  334. 
Carvers,  79-81. 

Carving,  96. 

Case-of-drawers,  107-109. 
Caterers,  301,  365-7. 

Catchup,  363. 

Catiemut’s  Hill,  9. 

Caudle-cups,  139. 
Cauliflower-ware,  131. 

Chairs,  109-110. 

Chest-upon-Chest,  108. 

Children’s  books,  338. 

clothes,  227. 

China,  1 19-132. 

, Capt.  G.  Shelly’s,  60,  121. 

, ornamental,  107,  126-127,  131. 

Chocolate  Pots,  152. 

Churches,  37. 

Church-music,  299-300. 
Circulating  Library,  339. 

Citron,  363. 

City  Hall,  37. 

Cleaners  and  dyers,  248-249. 
Clinton,  Governor,  19,  69,  306, 
347- 

Cloaks,  223-224. 

Clocks,  113,  115- 

Clothes,  lost  and  stolen,  187-188, 
224. 

Clubs,  308-311. 

, women’s,  383-384. 

Coals,  95. 


Index 


Coats,  181. 

, fur-lined,  239. 

Cocked  hat,  178. 

Cockfighting,  266-267. 

Cod,  352. 

Coenties  Market,  348,  356-357. 

Slip,  47,  356-357. 

Coffee  Pots,  151. 

Colden,  Alexander,  house  of,  55. 

, Cadwallader,  on  desire  for 

money  in  New  York,  314- 
315. 

Cole,  Mrs.,  335. 

Collect,  The,  24. 

Colville,  Elizabeth,  217. 
Commode,  The,  209,  212. 
Common,  The,  9,  16. 

Company,  Theatrical,  272,  274. 
Concert,  Ranelagh,  369. 

Concerts,  292,  297-300. 
Confectioners,  365-366. 

Conscious  Lovers,  The,  279. 
Continental  Congress,  against 
sport,  271. 

Cook-books,  361-362. 

Cooking,  361-362. 

Cooks,  360-361. 

Cordial  waters,  353-354. 

Corelli,  287,  288. 

Cornbury,  Lord,  55,  59,  367. 
Cornell,  John,  267. 

Cosby,  Governor,  45. 

Cosmetics,  201-208. 

Counterpanes,  103. 

Country-seats,  40-45.  55.  349- 
Coventry,  Lady,  202. 

Cowper,  quotation  from,  202. 

Cox,  Joseph,  79-80,  82,  83. 
Cozani,  Joseph,  297. 

Crab-fish,  exhibited,  320. 

Cravats,  179. 

Cream-coloured  ware-,  125,  132. 
Cricket-balls,  265. 

Cripple  Bush,  15,  16. 


Culinary  art,  360. 

Cupboards,  143-144. 

Currants,  363-36 4. 

Custis,  Eleanor,  142. 

Cutlery,  165-168. 

Cymon,  285. 

Da  Costa,  J.,  132. 

Damask,  230. 

Damon  and  Chloe,  298. 

Dances,  305,  330. 

Dancing  Academy,  304. 

, Assembly,  301,  304. 

, masters,  331. 

Davies,  Capt.  B.,  87. 

Deane,  Richard,  353. 

Deer,  261. 

Deer-parks,  264. 

Delany,  Mrs.,  quoted,  229,  233. 
De  Lancey,  Governor,  55. 

De  Lancey,  Oliver,  270. 

De  Lange,  Jacob,  120. 

Delanoy,  Abraham,  333. 
Delicacies,  Table,  363-364. 

De  Meyer,  Nicholas,  53. 

De  Peyster,  Abraham,  18. 

, house  of,  19,  69-73. 

, Johannes,  53. 

Derham,  M.,  215. 

Diamonds,  250,  251,  252,  253, 

254- 

Dienval,  Alexander  V.,  musician, 
295- 

Distillery,  353. 

Dogs,  12,  393-394. 

Douglass,  David,  280,  281. 

Dress,  lines  about,  245,  246. 

, simplicity  in,  196-197. 

Dressing-table,  gentlemen’s,  174- 
175- 

, ladies’,  201. 

Drinking,  260,  306,  308,  352-4. 
Ducape,  230. 

Duchess  of  Gordon,  39,  382-383. 


399 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Duncan,  Thomas,  burning  of 
house  of,  28. 

Durand,  John,  333. 

Dutens,  Charles,  252. 

Duyckinck,  G.,  90,  333. 
Duyckinck’s  map,  16. 

Ebbing,  Jeroninus,  53. 

Economy  of  ladies,  248. 

Education  of  a young  lady,  386, 
389- 

Electrical  fish,  321-322. 

Elers,  The,  123. 

Elmendorph,  Catharine,  137,  227. 
Emeralds,  252, 

Engravings,  89-92. 
Entertainments,  31 1. 

Ewers,  141. 

Exchange  Place,  15. 

Fair  Penitent,  The,  277. 

Fans,  224-225. 

Farms  and  plantations,  40-44. 
Feathers,  218,  219. 

Female  Club,  The,  384. 

Fencing,  331-332. 

masters,  331-332. 

Fergusson,  C.  and  J.,  238,  335. 
Ferries,  46-47,  48. 

Figs,  363. 

Fire-arms,  17-18. 

Fire-engines,  27-28. 

Fire-place,  92-95. 

Fires,  27-33. 

Fireworks,  370. 

Fish,  347-349. 

Fish-market,  348. 

Fishing,  265,  266. 

Flowers,  artificial,  218,  334. 

Fly  cap,  216,  217. 

Flying  Club,  31 1. 

Foddy,  James,  97. 

Fontange,  The,  209. 

Food  sold  in  the  streets,  358. 


f Fort  George,  4,  18. 

— , entertainments  at,  304, 

305,  306-307. 

Francis,  Samuel,  366. 

Fraunces’s  Tavern,  19,  312. 

Free  Bridge,  Dyckman’s,  46. 
French  Dances,  305. 

Fresh  Water,  5,  16. 

Fruits,  342,  345-347- 
',  Furniture,  Governor  Burnet’s, 
61-63. 

Furniture,  Cornelis  Jacobs’s,  56- 
57- 

. , Col.  W.  Smith’s,  58. 

, Capt.  G.  Shelly’s,  59-60. 

, Abraham  Lodge’s,  66-69. 

, William  Walton’s,  69. 

, Abraham  de  Peyster,  70-73. 

Furs,  239. 

Gaine,  Hugh,  204,  207,  248,  337, 
361. 

Gallows,  9,  16. 

Gambling,  260. 

Game-preserves,  262. 

, season  for,  262,  264. 

Games,  265. 

Gardens,  25,  26,  41,  44. 

, ornaments  for,  25. 

Gardeners,  343. 

Garden  Street,  15. 

Gates,  city,  5. 

Gauze,  220-221. 

Gazley,  Martha,  334. 

Geminiani,  288. 

Gentlemen’s  furnishings,  180. 
German  Flute,  290. 

— , music  for  the,  289. 

Gilliland,  James,  122. 

Girandoles,  98. 

Glass,  162-165. 

Glee  clubs,  291. 

Gloves,  195,  220. 

Golf,  265. 

400 


Index 


Governor’s  Island,  45. 

Governor’s  residence,  4,  37. 
Granby,  Marquis  of,  308. 

Grates,  162. 

Green  Lane,  15. 

Grocer,  365. 

Groceries,  363-364. 

Grottos,  25. 

Gueubel,  Stephen,  113. 

Gunnings,  The,  202,  215. 

Haircloth,  95. 

Hair-dressing,  gentlemen’s,  175- 
178. 

, ladies,  209-212. 

, verse  on,  385. 

Halden,  John,  162. 

Hallam,  Miss,  283. 

, Mrs.  Lewis,  280,  283,  299. 

Handel,  288,  298. 

Handkerchiefs,  195. 

Hanover  Square,  19. 
Hardenbrook,  Theo.,  designer, 
25-26. 

Harman,  Mrs.,  283,  299. 

Harmonic  Society,  292. 
Harpsichord,  music  for  the,  288. 
Hat,  cocked,  171. 

Hats,  212,  213,  214,  215,  216,  217, 
218. 

Haydn,  286. 

Hayes,  Barak,  205. 

Head,  ornaments  for  the,  210-212. 
Hendrickson,  D.,  34. 

Herrings,  352. 

Hive,  The,  216,  238. 

Hizen-ware,  122. 

Honest  Yorkshireman,  The,  277. 
Hoods,  212-214. 

Hoop,  The,  229. 

Horses,  Breeders  of,  270. 

, English  and  American,  268. 

H ouses,  6-7. 

, advertisements  of,  20-21. 


Houses,  interiors  of,  6-7,  33. 

, rents  of,  34-37. 

Hulett,  William  C.,  280,  292,  295, 

297,  330,  33 1- 

Hunc  Over  De  Club,  383-384. 
Hungary-water,  203,  205. 

Hunter,  Governor,  55. 

Hunting,  267. 

Husband-hunting,  392. 

Imari,  122. 

Immorality,  376. 

Importations  of  dress-goods, 
230-233. 

Intriguing  Chambermaid,  The,  273. 

Jacobs,  Cornelis,  china  of,  120. 
James,  Major,  house  of,  attacked 
by  mob,  371-372. 

Jane  Shore , 283. 

Japanese,  The,  320. 

Japanned- ware,  113-114. 

Jay,  Peter,  235. 

Jewellers,  252. 

Jewelry,  195,  250-256. 

, Capt.  Shelly’s,  250. 

, Importations  of,  254-255. 

Johnson,  Joseph,  338. 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  welcome 
to,  310-31 1. 

John  Street  Theatre,  282. 

Kalm,  quoted,  5-7,  22-24,  88,  347, 

355- 

Kas,  1 15. 

Keen,  William,  365. 

Kennedy,  Captain,  house  of,  18. 
Kevenhuller  cock,  171,  178. 
Kilburn,  Lawrence,  332. 

King’s  Arms  Tavern,  367-368. 
King’s  Bridge,  46. 

King’s  College,  37,  314. 

, commencement  of,  312-314. 

King’s  Farm,  The,  16. 


401 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


King’s  Honey-water,  203,  205. 
King  and  the  Miller  of  Mansfield, 
The,  280. 

Kissing-Bridge,  The,  351. 

Kitchen  utensils,  161. 
Knee-garters,  194. 

Knife-cases,  167-168. 

Knight,  Madam,  33,  92,  259. 
Kursoidus,  384. 

Laces,  220. 

Lady,  education  of  a,  386-389. 
Lamps,  102. 

Languages,  teaching  of,  330. 
Lanterns,  102. 

Lasker,  John,  222. 

Lawrence,  John,  53,  393. 

Laws,  27,  33. 

Leadbeater,  James,  296. 

Lectures,  humourous,  326-327. 
Leisler,  Jacob,  53. 

Lemons,  363. 

Lenzi,  M.,  301,  366. 

Lepper,  Thomas,  164. 

Lethe,  283. 

Libraries,  85-86,  339-340. 

Lioness,  320. 

Liqueurs,  353. 

Lispenard,  Kitty,  393. 

Meadows,  269. 

Livingston,  Catherine,  393. 

, Mary,  73. 

, Philip,  47. 

, Gov.  William,  163. 

Lobsters,  349. 

Lodge,  Abraham,  home  of,  66- 

69. 

London  company  of  comedians, 
277- 

Long,  W.  and  S.,  335. 
Looking-glasses,  97-102. 

Lorin,  Peter,  252. 

Lotteries,  260-261. 

Lottery,  marriage,  389-392. 


Loudoun,  Earl  of,  sale  of  goods 
of,  86. 

Love,  Charles,  295. 
Lowestoft-ware,  125. 

Lutestring,  230. 

Luxury,  374-375- 

Macaroni,  The,  183-185. 

, — , Club,  184. 

, — , Purse,  185. 

Madeira  wine,  353. 

Maiden  Lane,  15. 

Mail  Service,  37-38. 

Mall,  The,  19. 

Mangoes,  364. 

Manners,  373,  380-382. 
Mantel-pieces,  94. 

Mantua-makers,  237. 

Marionettes,  316. 

Markets,  37,  356-357- 
Marlborough,  Duchess  of,  203. 
Marriages,  392-393- 
Marshall,  John,  366. 

Marston,  Thomas,  393. 

Mary,  Queen,  54. 

Masks,  224. 

Mazzanti,  Signora,  292. 
McDougal,  Captain,  354. 
McEvers,  James,  123. 

McQueen,  John,  226. 

Meat,  358-360. 

Meissonier,  143. 

Merchants,  wealth  of,  53. 
Merveilleuse,  243. 

Mezzotints,  89,  90. 

Microscope,  Solar,  325-326. 
Military  Band,  298-299. 

Milk,  16,  358. 

Milligan,  John,  223. 

Milliners,  215,  217,  239. 

Miniature  fashions,  238-239. 

Miss  in  her  Teens,  275. 

Mitchell,  John,  123. 

Mits,  220. 


Index 


Mohocks,  1 1— 12. 

Moncrieff,  Thomas,  393. 

Money,  desire  for,  314-315. 
Montagu,  Lady  Mary  Wortley, 
207. 

Monteith,  The,  141. 

Montgomerie,  Governor,  84-86. 

, barge  of,  86. 

, china  of,  121. 

, clothes  of,  181. 

, horses  of,  86. 

, household  possessions  of, 

63-64,  84-86. 

, library  of,  85-86. 

Morals,  public,  373-378. 

More,  Hannah,  21 1. 

Morris,  Lewis,  19,  53,  173. 

, — , silver  of,  133. 

, Staats  Long,  39,  382-383. 

Muckelrain,  William,  366. 

Muffs,  239. 

Mugs,  138. 

Mushrooms,  363. 

Music,  282-300. 

, amateur,  290-292. 

, character  of,  286. 

, teachers,  295-297. 

Musical  clock,  exhibition  of, 

325. 

, instruments,  293-295. 

Myers,  Hyam,  356. 

, Naphtaly  Hart,  251,  254. 

Nagasaki,  122. 

Nankee  Doodle,  185. 

Needlework,  334-5. 

Negligee,  238. 

New  Bath  Guide,  quoted,  182-3, 
204,  240-241. 

Newmarket  Races,  267,  268. 

New  Year’s  Eve,  noises  on,  14. 
New  York,  beauty  and  size  of, 
3-4- 

, gates  of,  5. 


New  York  travellers,  descriptions 
of,  5,  6-7. 

, wealth  in,  53-54,  56. 

New  Yorkers,  gaiety  of,  259-260. 
Nicholl,  Edward,  123,  162. 
Nicholls,  Col.,  267. 

Nightgowns,  238. 

Night-hawks,  11. 

Nithsdale,  Lady,  213. 

Nivernois  cock,  178. 

Noel,  Garrat,  90,  91,  339. 

Nutten  Island,  45. 

Nuts,  342. 

Oil,  363. 

Olives,  363. 

Operas,  favourite,  290. 

Oranges,  364. 

Organ,  87. 

music,  288. 

, Trinity  Church,  299. 

Organs,  294. 

Oriental  ware,  127-128. 

Osborne,  Sir  Danvers,  sale  of, 
possessions,  86. 

Ostriches,  321. 

Oysters,  349-350. 

Packet-boats,  38-39. 

Paduasoy,  230. 

Painting,  332-333- 
Painting  on  glass,  333-334- 
Paintings,  sale  of,  87. 

Paints,  203,  206-207. 

Palisades,  5. 

Panoramas,  323-325. 

Parade,  The,  18. 

Parker,  Catherine,  73. 

, Elisha,  diary  of,  303,  340- 

341- 

, - — , on  Pamela,  340-341. 

, Capt.  T.,  wardrobe,  189-190. 

Parrots,  394. 

Paste  buckles,  254. 


403 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Patch-boxes,  224. 

Pearl  Street,  19. 

Pelerine.  See  Pullareen. 

Pelham,  Peter,  295. 

Perfumes,  203-204. 

Persian,  230. 

Perukes,  175-178. 

Pets,  393-395- 
Pewter,  159-160. 

Pewterers,  159. 

Pheasants,  English,  45-46. 
Philipsen,  Hendrick,  53. 

Phillipse,  Frederick,  46. 

Piano  music,  288. 

Pickles,  363,  364. 

Picture-dealers,  90. 

Pictures,  89-92. 

Pigeons,  355. 

Pineapple  ware,  131. 

Pineapples,  347. 

Play-houses,  272,  282. 

Plays  and  players,  272-285. 
Pocket-books,  196. 

Pomatum,  212. 

Poplin,  230. 

Porcupine,  320. 

Porringers,  139. 

Portobello  ware,  131. 

Posset-cups,  139. 

Post  office,  38. 

Posture-makers,  316. 

Potteries,  English,  123. 

Poulterer,  356. 

Poultry,  355. 

Powder-house,  16. 

Prince,  Samuel,  82. 

Prizes  of  lottery,  261. 

Prizes  of  shooting  - matches, 
264-5. 

Proctor,  Mr.,  295. 

Propert,  D.,  296. 

Pullareen,  214. 

Punch  bowls,  141. 

ladles,  141. 


Punch’s  opera.  316. 

Punishments,  8-9,  139-141. 

Quantz,  290. 

Queen’s  Head  Tavern,  367. 
Queen’s  ware,  125. 

Quilts,  103. 

Races,  267-271. 

Raisins,  364. 

Ramilies  cock,  178. 

Ramilies  wig,  176. 

Ranelagh,  369-370. 

Ray,  352. 

Ray,  Richard,  137. 

, Sarah,  137,  202. 

Receipt  for  a Modern  Dress,  245. 

— sack  posset,  362-3. 

Remsen,  Henry,  47. 

Revere,  Paul,  157. 

Ribbons,  215. 

Richard  III.,  272,  283. 

Richey,  George,  82. 

Rings,  251-254. 

Rivers,  John,  331. 

Rivington,  James,  90,  92,  208,  265, 
288,  289,  337. 

Roaring-Boys,  11. 

Rombouts,  Francis,  china  of,  120. 
Romeo  and  Juliet,  284. 

Roofs,  6,  32. 

Roosevelt,  John  J.,  91,  122. 

, Nicholas,  266. 

Rose,  Joseph,  161. 

Rubies,  252. 

Ruffles,  195,  220. 

Russell,  230. 

Sabbath,  observation  of,  13-14, 
377-378. 

Sack,  237-238. 

Salisbury  Plain,  267. 

Salmon,  352. 

Salt,  The,  135. 


404 


Index 


Salvers,  141-142. 

Samson,  The  Female,  317. 
Sapphires,  252. 

Sarcenet,  230. 

School,  Dancing,  296,  330. 
Schools,  329-330. 

Schuyler,  John,  264. 

Scrutore,  iio-m. 

Sea-Bathing,  266. 

Seasons,  close  for  game,  262- 
264. 

Seeds,  342-343- 
Sewing,  335. 

Sexes,  grievances  of  both,  380- 
382. 

Shad,  351. 

Shades,  216. 

Sharks,  352. 

Sheepshead,  352. 

Sheeting,  103. 

Shell  fish,  348-350. 

Shelly,  Giles,  Capt.,  59-61,  121. 
Shirts,  194. 

Shoe-makers,  222-223. 

Shoes,  193-194,  221-222. 

Shooting,  261. 

Shooting-matches,  264. 

Shows,  316-323. 

Siemon,  John,  239. 

Signs,  21-22. 

Silver,  133-138. 

, Asser  Levy’s,  134. 

, engravers  of,  144. 

, James  Alexander’s,  137. 

, Lewis  Morris’s,  133. 

, M.  Van  Varick’s,  133-134. 

, Mrs.  Wallace’s,  157-158. 

, new  styles  of,  156-157. 

, Richard  Ray’s,  137. 

, Rip  Van  Dam’s,  147-148. 

-,  the  De  Peyster,  137,  148. 

, William  Cox’s,  134. 

, William  Walton’s,  148. 

Silversmiths,  145-146. 


Skate,  352. 

Sleighing,  259. 

Slips,  47-48. 

Smith,  Col.  William,  possessions 
of,  58-59- 

, glassware  of,  163. 

, Mrs.  William,  dress  of,  234- 

235- 

Snuff,  379-380. 

Snuff-boxes,  196,  380. 

Soaps,  203,  206,  248. 

Social  Club,  311-312. 

Societies,  308-311. 

Society  for  Promoting  Arts, 
332. 

— — Religious  Knowledge 

among  the  Poor,  376-377. 
Society  of  the  Friendly  Brothers, 
311- 

Society  Library,  339. 

, St.  Andrew’s,  308,  309-310. 

, St.  David’s,  309. 

, St.  George’s,  308. 

, St.  Nicholas’s,  309. 

, St.  Patrick’s,  308-309. 

Sodi,  Pietro,  296-297,  299,  330. 
Solitaire,  The,  179. 

Spectator , The,  quoted,  212. 
Spinets,  87,  293. 

Spinning,  336. 

Spoon-cases,  167-168. 

Spoons,  155. 

Spratt,  John,  53. 

Stage,  Hostility  to  the,  280,  281. 
Stage  setting,  elaborate,  284-285. 
Stamp  Act,  280,  371,  392. 
Stay-hook,  228. 

Stay  makers,  226. 

Stays,  225-227. 

Steenwyck,  Cornelis,  53. 

Stevens,  Elizabeth,  73. 

Stirling,  Earl  of,  76,  270. 

St.  Maurice,  Margaret,  213-214. 
Stockades,  4. 


405 


Social  New  York  Under  the  Georges 


Stockings,  182,  194. 

Stomachers,  224,  228. 

Storer,  Maria,  282,  299. 

Stoves,  95. 

Street  lamps,  11,  12. 

signs,  21-22. 

Stuyvesant,  Judith,  121. 

, Nicholas  William,  217. 

Sugar,  363. 

Sugar-candy,  363. 

Sunday,  observation  of,  13-14, 
377-378. 

Suydam,  Ryck,  hi. 

Swamps  and  marshes,  15-16. 
Swift,  quoted,  201. 

Tables,  111-113. 

Taffety,  230. 

Tailors,  185-186,  237. 

Tankards,  135-137- 
Tartini,  287. 

Tartini’s  Sonate  du  Diable,  288. 
Taverns,  365-369. 

Taxes,  32. 

Tea,  383. 

Tea-Drinking,  378-379. 

Tea-Pots,  149-150. 

Tea-Tables,  381. 

Tea  Water  Pump,  24. 
Temperance,  appeal  for,  354. 
Tempest,  The,  285. 

Tender  Husband,  The,  284. 

Tennis  racquets,  265. 

Terrapin,  350. 

Tetley,  William,  331. 

Theatres,  272-285. 

Theatrical  Companies,  272-285. 
Tiles,  6,  31-34,  92,  94. 

Tippet,  Sally,  Letter  of,  241-244. 
Tippets,  239. 

Toasts,  354. 

Tortoiseshell  ware,  130. 

Tower,  The,  209,  210. 

Trade,  56. 


Travelling  and  Travellers,  38-39. 
Trees,  6,  15. 

Trespassing,  17. 

Trim,  Thomas,  quoted,  196-197. 
Tryon,  Governor,  369. 

Twin  Rivals,  The,  280. 

Tuckey,  William,  295-296,  298, 
299. 

Tumblers,  138-139. 

Turtle,  350-351- 
Turtle-feasts,  350-351. 

Tyger,  321. 

Umbrellas,  64,  195. 

Universal  Magazine,  quoted,  244. 
Upholsterers,  80,  82-83. 

Upton,  Mr.,  277-279. 

Urn,  The,  152. 

Van  Burgh,  Johannes,  53. 

Van  Cortlandt  house,  45. 

, Mary,  dress  of,  235. 

, Olaf,  53- 

Van  Dam,  Rip,  64-65,  86,  272. 
Van  Ruyven,  Cornelis,  53. 

Van  Varick,  Margarita,  119. 
Vauxhall,  3^-372. 

Vavasor,  Josiah,  236. 

Vegetables,  342-345. 

Ver  Planck,  Judith  C.,  143. 

, Samuel,  143. 

Viany,  Peter,  332. 

Victuals,  assize  of,  358. 

Vintner’s  company,  141. 

Violin  music,  288-289. 

, popularity  of  the,  286-289. 

Voider,  135. 

Wainwright,  Miss,  283,  299. 
Waistcoats,  190-193. 
Walking-sticks,  195. 

Wall,  Mr.,  283. 

Wall-paper,  88-89. 

Walls,  88-89. 


Index 


Walnuts,  364. 

Walpole,  Horace,  quoted,  184, 
202. 

Walton,  William,  19,  69. 

Wards,  4. 

Ware,  Isaac,  quoted,  88. 
Washington,  Gen.,  19,  69,  142, 
163. 

Watchmen,  9-10. 

Watermelons,  347. 

Water-pot,  135. 

Wax  works,  318-319. 

Wealth  in  New  York,  374-375. 
Wedgwood,  123,  125,  131-132. 
Wells,  24. 

Wells,  James,  222. 

Whales,  352. 

Whieldon,  Thomas,  123. 

Whipper,  Public,  8. 


Wigs,  175-178. 

Willet,  Edward,  301. 

Willett  and  Pearsey,  81. 

Wilmot,  Henry,  122,  247. 

Wilson,  Jane,  114. 

Windsor  chair,  no. 

Wines,  352-353- 

, Gov.  Burnet’s,  353. 

, Capt.  Shelly’s,  60-61. 

Woman,  The  masculine,  382. 

, shopper,  tricky,  237. 

Women  in  Politics,  383. 

, proposals  of,  392. 

Wood,  Aaron,  123. 

Woolls,  Stephen,  283,  299. 

World  in  miniature,  exhibition  of, 

324-325. 

Zedwitz,  Herman,  292,  296. 


THE  END 


407 


